Quote:
Originally Posted by BadBilly
As I was responding to the previous comment that I do not agree with the idea that e-books are in a special category and I should have to pay a fee to borrow them from the library. I already pay for the library with my taxes. I don't expect that every penny be spent on things I want, but I do thing I should get a share of the resources.
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As a heavy library user, I understand your perspective. Here's the problem. Say the latest bestseller comes out and your library wants to buy a couple of copies so they can meet demand. They shell out $19/copy (Amazon discount) and put 4 books on the shelves for about $80. It develops a long hold list of 100 people, but with 2-week lending for "new titles" the list clears in a year. At the same time, they purchase one e-book for $80. It develops a long hold list of 100 people, but with 2-week lending, it takes 4x as long to clear, except that the publisher has restricted downloads to 26 copies for the eBook and then it disappears. So they have to buy the eBook 4x to clear their list, or $320.
Now, as a library patron, of course I want everything to be free. And I appreciate and enjoy the convenience of borrowing eBooks. I dislike the limited selection and the long waits that come with it. But it is hard for me to say, "Hey, spend 16x as much on one eBook as a printed copy would cost." It is hard for me to look at the selection of children's books and say, "We could have a lot more new titles if eBooks weren't so darned expensive." So while I agree that eBooks are popular, and library patrons want them, I don't see how they are cost-effective if the library can't pass the costs on somehow.
Perhaps we could start a referendum in every town in America to raise funding for eBooks through a tax hike. But I doubt it would pass. So if patrons can't pay a fee and taxpayers wouldn't raise taxes to pay for eBooks, it means that every eBook means at least 4 physical books don't show up on the shelf. And over time, that will reduce the availability of information to patrons. Thus, as much as I dislike it, I'm willing to pay a small fee to borrow an eBook.