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Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks
No, generally speaking you have the right of it. No one really understands why they did it or who put them up to it or what they are thinking. The BPH probably has the most to gain--libraries don't have TONS of ebooks available--it's fairly limited because the BPH don't want to provide libraries with books--it's a single sale and they want to generate continuous income. So if you throw in a few thousand indies, we could gain some attention/sales/ground against the trad books. In other words, we might be in danger of being noticed.
I doubt Amazon would supply them. Amazon has their own (meager) lending program and if they ever get going with that, they will want to make books in their program exclusive. The current lending structure REQUIRES that your book be exclusive to Amazon to be in it. Amazon will have to find a way to "charge" for the books (like SCRIBD) or make money off of it--and program the lending and return (more so than they currently do, which is programmed to allow one book per month, per account.)
It's an interesting thing to watch. I had NO idea it would cause such a firestorm. I just assumed I was last to know. I've actually learned a lot about overdrive and the program overall from the various posts. It's been informative.
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I don't read a lot of Indy books generally although I have enjoyed a few, not out of prejudice, but just too many authors I will never get to read enough of before I die dammit. Chances are I would read more if they were in the library.
I try to read at least one new author a month or more although it makes my unattainable TBR longer and a new author is a new author to me regardless of who publishes them.
I think labeling them is as detrimental as hiding them as it is my feeling that library users are less impulsive and more conservative overall and will start to believe the library is 'saving' them..
Alas there is a lot of crap out there and this is contributing to the librarians feeling that they are saving the literary world. yeah right! I have read more than a few horrendous library books.
I don't think libraries should be forced to carry all books, or that Overdrive should be either. Just a little common sense. If the book has merit, don't burden it with labels and restrictions. No merit, why carry it?
I see no solution outside of lawsuits against segregation. A consortium of select or successful Indy authors would no doubt become like a BPH if successful, just human nature. No blame implied.
It must be very frustrating in many ways to be a newer author not picked up by a publisher or choosing not to be. Not that different in practical terms than 20-100 years ago but the issues are much more visible. Still I think you are in a stronger position than authors were in prior to ebooks and self publishing.
Helen