Quote:
Originally Posted by Renate
Yet I don't know what the cost to a library it is to procure the rights to a digital asset. Is it the same cost as for you and me?
I sent an email to my library. "You have this book in the 3rd edition. I'll donate $50 if you'll buy the 5th edition." No reply.
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The cost to the library is considerably higher than the cost to you as an individual and the library copy comes with restrictions on the maximum number of loans (50 -100 are common) and, for many publishers, a limit on the length of the license (1 or 2 years is common). One sample that I ran into was an ebook that is sold on Kobo or Amazon for $14.99 US but costs the library $84 US for a 52 loan/2 year license (whichever comes first). This means that many libraries can not afford to keep ebooks that are not popular after the loan count/time expires so no searching for backlist items at most libraries.
One chart I ran into for the Big 5 was:
- Hachette: Metered Access, 24 month licensing model
- HarperCollins: Metered Access, 26 checkout licensing model
- Macmillan: Perpetual license for one copy; Metered access, 24 month licensing model after 8 week embargo for any additional copies
- Penguin Random House: Metered Access, 24 month licensing model
- Simon & Schuster: Metered Access, 24 month licensing model
At my local library, one recent horrible example was an ebook that was priced at $104.29 Cdn with a 52 loan limit/2 year limit so the library would be paying ~$2 or more per loan. The same book from Kobo or Amazon Canada was on sale for $9.99 Cdn.