Quote:
Originally Posted by dalai
How do you define optimum prices? I am guessing that publishers try to charge the highest amount possible without turning away customers. In that respect, they have the libraries in a bind. The library patrons want ebooks and they, not unreasonably, believe they have already paid for those ebooks through their taxes (and likely a library subscription). Libraries have little power to negotiate better licensing terms.
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Little power but not none.
Publishers will only get the message that they're overpricing their licenses (if that's the case) if enough libraries refuse to pay.
As for having "already paid" you could argue the same for other items such as DVDs or whatever. But whether or not they charge a fee they should make it clear to their patrons why, or why there aren't more ebooks available.
Trouble is there are plenty of taxpayers who'd happily see libraries disappear.