Public Library Donation Idea - love help fleshing out - Page 2

elemenoP · 12-22-2010, 01:29 PM

How much does an overdrive license for 1 book cost? Anybody know? In other words, if I am a librarian, and I am buying one digital copy of a book to go into circulation, how much does the book cost? It's not necessarily the $12.99 you would pay at Amazon or wherever. I have always been curious about this.

eP

elemenoP · 12-22-2010, 01:37 PM

Oh I see the answers in the link abookreader posted. Very interesting! And I love the idea of buying a book for the library instead of for myself. I can see how the librarian would want to approve it first.

eP

Joykins · 12-22-2010, 02:13 PM

Ah, I see. You arrange for your library to purchase the Overdrive book and for the bill to be sent to you.

Fbone · 12-22-2010, 02:14 PM

Not all libraries purchase their ebooks.

Many obtain them on a subscription basis. This system is more flexible and economical.

Also, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster don't permit their ebooks to be available through Overdrive lending.

MrsJoseph · 12-22-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abookreader

Mrs.Joseph - You might want to read through this thread of somebody who did manage to donate an Overdrive book to his library. As you can see - it was not a simple process.

I am actually kind of surprised that Libraries haven't just jumped onto this yet. Imagine webpage Wishlists of books where people could click and donate. I agree with you 100% - we should have this.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...drive+Donation

Thanks for this link (and info)! I think I'm going to harass my library system to get more on the ball (or at least listen and not tell me they have to have a meeting about it). DC has a horrible library system (especially compared to the one in my hometown) but they want community interest & participation. The idea that Spec has/had - getting a "donate" button would be fabulous.

I also love the idea of a Library Wish List with a donate now button. That would encourage a lot of donations, too.

MrsJoseph · 12-22-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

Also, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster don't permit their ebooks to be available through Overdrive lending.

Yeah, I read that in the other thread. Which is stupid and sad. My local library expanded my reading horizons. Mercedes Lackey, Andre Norton, Piers Anthony and David Eddings have enjoyed lots and lots of my money due to my local library. I would have never walked into a bookstore just looking for any of these authors. In fact, I would have never started reading fantasy if not for my library. I was firmly a murder mystery type of girl before that.

Joykins · 12-22-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

Thanks for this link (and info)! I think I'm going to harass my library system to get more on the ball (or at least listen and not tell me they have to have a meeting about it). DC has a horrible library system (especially compared to the one in my hometown) but they want community interest & participation. The idea that Spec has/had - getting a "donate" button would be fabulous.

I also love the idea of a Library Wish List with a donate now button. That would encourage a lot of donations, too.

DC library's Overdrive site, I have found to be much better than the Maryland equivalent (I qualify for both cards). I think the Donate Now button (with a link to the Overdrive catalog, at least for now) would be an excellent idea.

queentess · 12-22-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

The trouble with that is, it's like donating a book to a library. They don't actually put it on the shelf, they sell it for money.

Which then goes to buy DVDs and Video games and comics and 1000 copies of the latest Stephen King book (instead of just 999)

(My mother was a librarian, so I've soaked up a lot of bitterness about how they work)

Varies from library to library. If your library told you they use them for circulation, they probably do. The very small local library where I grew up used donated books as long as they were in great shape. Books in not-so-great-shape were used for fundraising. The very large inner-city library system where I live now uses all book donations (not sure about dvds/audiobooks) for fundraising. No idea why.

Marcy · 12-22-2010, 04:48 PM

Depending on your library you can donate money to buy ebooks. I just made a donation for that purpose, after discussing it with the librarian to ensure that was exactly what my donation would go to. I know they followed through on it, because I asked them to include a specific book (currrent politics) as well as a specific genre (sci-fi) they were missing. A few weeks later their catalog now has that book as well as 45 new sci-fi books.

-Marcy

MrsJoseph · 12-22-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcy

Depending on your library you can donate money to buy ebooks. I just made a donation for that purpose, after discussing it with the librarian to ensure that was exactly what my donation would go to. I know they followed through on it, because I asked them to include a specific book (currrent politics) as well as a specific genre (sci-fi) they were missing. A few weeks later their catalog now has that book as well as 45 new sci-fi books.

-Marcy

I'm going to contact the library director again - maybe even direct them to MR (I asked him if he'd heard of it before and I got *crickets*). Maybe this will be some sort of option.

MrsJoseph · 12-22-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

Varies from library to library. If your library told you they use them for circulation, they probably do. The very small local library where I grew up used donated books as long as they were in great shape. Books in not-so-great-shape were used for fundraising. The very large inner-city library system where I live now uses all book donations (not sure about dvds/audiobooks) for fundraising. No idea why.

I hope you are right. My library system at home was wonderful. I miss it greatly.

MrsJoseph · 12-22-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joykins

DC library's Overdrive site, I have found to be much better than the Maryland equivalent (I qualify for both cards). I think the Donate Now button (with a link to the Overdrive catalog, at least for now) would be an excellent idea.

Worse than DC's?? I've heard tales...

twobits · 12-22-2010, 05:01 PM

I know when I offered to donate some paper books to a library once they were ready to take them. Then when I said it was on the condition they would be circulated, they said they did not do that. Seems they liked to have all the
books go through their selection and purchase procedures.

I think soon Internet access will be more important then the library for self education, if it is not already.

I did notice that the Philly Free Library now has a link that lets you donate specifically earmarked for ebooks at least, even if it is not for specific ones.

Marcy · 12-22-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

I'm going to contact the library director again - maybe even direct them to MR (I asked him if he'd heard of it before and I got *crickets*). Maybe this will be some sort of option.

Mind you, I simply wrote a check to the library and trusted they would honor my wishes. They did, so I am willing to donate again. This will definitely depend on your library and their staff.

-Marcy

Joykins · 12-23-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

Worse than DC's?? I've heard tales...

DC has 3-4 times as many ebooks and you can check them out for 3 weeks as opposed to 2. The one time I needed tech support I got it within 12 hours by email. I'm very specific in what I want.

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12-22-2010, 01:29 PM	#16
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	How much does an overdrive license for 1 book cost? Anybody know? In other words, if I am a librarian, and I am buying one digital copy of a book to go into circulation, how much does the book cost? It's not necessarily the $12.99 you would pay at Amazon or wherever. I have always been curious about this. eP

12-22-2010, 01:37 PM	#17
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	Oh I see the answers in the link abookreader posted. Very interesting! And I love the idea of buying a book for the library instead of for myself. I can see how the librarian would want to approve it first. eP

12-22-2010, 02:13 PM	#18
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,612 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	Ah, I see. You arrange for your library to purchase the Overdrive book and for the bill to be sent to you.

12-22-2010, 02:14 PM	#19
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,314 Karma: 103930826 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Not all libraries purchase their ebooks. Many obtain them on a subscription basis. This system is more flexible and economical. Also, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster don't permit their ebooks to be available through Overdrive lending.

12-22-2010, 04:48 PM	#24
Marcy Guru Posts: 901 Karma: 950683 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra2	Depending on your library you can donate money to buy ebooks. I just made a donation for that purpose, after discussing it with the librarian to ensure that was exactly what my donation would go to. I know they followed through on it, because I asked them to include a specific book (currrent politics) as well as a specific genre (sci-fi) they were missing. A few weeks later their catalog now has that book as well as 45 new sci-fi books. -Marcy

12-22-2010, 05:01 PM	#28
twobits Addict Posts: 223 Karma: 1057019 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: none	I know when I offered to donate some paper books to a library once they were ready to take them. Then when I said it was on the condition they would be circulated, they said they did not do that. Seems they liked to have all the books go through their selection and purchase procedures. I think soon Internet access will be more important then the library for self education, if it is not already. I did notice that the Philly Free Library now has a link that lets you donate specifically earmarked for ebooks at least, even if it is not for specific ones.