Quote:
Originally Posted by DuckieTigger
A B&M outlet is not necessary for ebooks. The possible danger of centralizing and nationalizing to a single library system is the wait lists. A higher populated area (e.g. a major city) will have disproportionate better and faster access than any rural area. Sounds like a bad idea.
|
Not all countries are as big as the US.
For example, Amazon (and others) had one day delivery in place ages ago.
There are 11 states tbat are each bigger than the entire UK. Plus, a lot of countries are more heavily urbanized than the US. With good roads and trains and efficient warehouses moving a physical package anywhere overnight is almost trivial in many countries. Pretty much the same for digital stuff.
Essentially, a national library system in many countries is as "hard" as a statewide system in the US. It's a market Overdrive could easily tap into...
...except...
...many of the potential customers have single-digit ebook market penetration and deep hostility to US tech companies. A lot of soil needs to be tilled, often with tbe opposition of local publishers and retailers.
I believe Overdrive does have a presence outside the US but nowhere as big as possible. It'll take time.