The problem with ebooks (for libraries)

Ebookus · 11-21-2025, 08:57 AM

Ted talk discussing library lending of ebooks.

Gormagon · 11-22-2025, 11:58 AM

So? What is the problem? I only see one sentence in your post. Why don't you summarise the Ted talk in your own words and add a link as well?

Sirtel · 11-22-2025, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gormagon

So? What is the problem? I only see one sentence in your post. Why don't you summarise the Ted talk in your own words and add a link as well?

There is a Youtube video in the post. You don't see it?

Gormagon · 11-22-2025, 12:07 PM

No, I just see the sentence "This action is temporarily rate limited. Please retry in a few seconds."
I also don't allow JavaScript on most websites, this included. Besides it's just a matter of courtesy in my opinion to write a short summary, after all a forum is for discussions and not watching videos. I rather read something instead of watching a video, it just takes less time.

Sirtel · 11-22-2025, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gormagon

I rather read something instead of watching a video, it just takes less time.

Me too. I hate watching videos, so if there is a video or its link in a post, I almost never watch it. But that's a personal preference, not a site rule and others are free to do as they like, including posting videos.

DNSB · 11-22-2025, 02:49 PM

Not sure why a summary would be needed. Libraries pay more—often 2 to 3 times the cost—for ebooks compared to pbooks. Most ebooks come with a time/number of loans limit requiring the library to re-purchase ebooks while a pbook can be loaned as long as the library can keep it in decent condition.

dewd · Yesterday, 07:38 AM

Ebooks are not the problem. The problem is the publishers' restrictive licensing models.

In fairness, the guy in this video isn't saying that ebooks are the problem (although some of what he says is not accurate) - but the title of the video is highly misleading.

rantanplan · Yesterday, 07:57 AM

Is that the talk from the librarian of Penn State University? I found that pretty good.

Here's just the link, in case the embedding is the problem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PygU...b2tzIHRlZHg%3D

Quoth · Yesterday, 07:59 AM

Also ebook licences for libraries expire, so often you can't get the earlier books in a series.

The licencing is too restrictive, though there should be a per loan royalty, like on paper books in UK and Ireland. OTOH, the Internet Archive making up its own rules doesn't work either.
Here the libraries can only buy paper books from the publisher. They can't shelve donated or S/H books. That's overly restrictive. The small royalty per loan isn't.

The publisher should get no info apart from number of times loaned. Not the branch, person or date.

rantanplan · Yesterday, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

The licencing is too restrictive, though there should be a per loan royalty, like on paper books in UK and Ireland. OTOH, the Internet Archive making up its own rules doesn't work either.
Here the libraries can only buy paper books from the publisher. They can't shelve donated or S/H books. That's overly restrictive. The small royalty per loan isn't.

The specific case in the Ted talk was that the text books in question were publicly funded and the university had to license the ebooks back. And their solution was to work with a publisher that makes publicly funded publications free access ebooks so that anyone who wants to read said text books can do so without any account or fees.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Is that the talk from the librarian of Penn State University? I found that pretty good.

Embedding is not a problem. (I know this was already embedded in the 1st post).

[/QUOTE]

Excellent talk!

rantanplan · Yesterday, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Embedding is not a problem.

If it's not a problem, why doesn't it show up for me? I only see a black box.

JSWolf · Yesterday, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

If it's not a problem, why doesn't it show up for me? I only see a black box.

It could be a problem with your web browser settings. If you are using a browser with profiles, make a clean profile with no extensions and no settings changes. You can do this with Firefox and maybe others.

What browser are you using?

rantanplan · Yesterday, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What browser are you using?

Vivaldi

Sirtel · Yesterday, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rantanplan

Vivaldi

Can you see it with another browser?

I use Slimjet with uBlock Origin and have no issues with seeing embedded videos here.

11-21-2025, 08:57 AM	#1
Ebookus Digital Grenadier Posts: 216 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Jan 2024 Device: Kindle	The problem with ebooks (for libraries) Ted talk discussing library lending of ebooks.

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11-22-2025, 11:58 AM	#2
Gormagon monstrous mythical beast Posts: 56 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: May 2023 Device: Tab Ultra C, Meebook P78 Pro, TCL 50 Pro Nxtpaper, TCL Nxtpaper11	So? What is the problem? I only see one sentence in your post. Why don't you summarise the Ted talk in your own words and add a link as well?

11-22-2025, 12:07 PM	#4
Gormagon monstrous mythical beast Posts: 56 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: May 2023 Device: Tab Ultra C, Meebook P78 Pro, TCL 50 Pro Nxtpaper, TCL Nxtpaper11	No, I just see the sentence "This action is temporarily rate limited. Please retry in a few seconds." I also don't allow JavaScript on most websites, this included. Besides it's just a matter of courtesy in my opinion to write a short summary, after all a forum is for discussions and not watching videos. I rather read something instead of watching a video, it just takes less time.

11-22-2025, 02:49 PM	#6
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,646 Karma: 174510110 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Not sure why a summary would be needed. Libraries pay more—often 2 to 3 times the cost—for ebooks compared to pbooks. Most ebooks come with a time/number of loans limit requiring the library to re-purchase ebooks while a pbook can be loaned as long as the library can keep it in decent condition.

Yesterday, 07:38 AM	#7
dewd Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 1231814 Join Date: Nov 2017 Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Voyage(s)	Ebooks are not the problem. The problem is the publishers' restrictive licensing models. In fairness, the guy in this video isn't saying that ebooks are the problem (although some of what he says is not accurate) - but the title of the video is highly misleading.

Yesterday, 07:57 AM	#8
rantanplan Weirdo Posts: 953 Karma: 11942694 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Wuppertal, Germany Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Paperwhite 2021, Kindle Scribe 2022	Is that the talk from the librarian of Penn State University? I found that pretty good. Here's just the link, in case the embedding is the problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PygU...b2tzIHRlZHg%3D

Yesterday, 07:59 AM	#9
Quoth Still reading Posts: 15,160 Karma: 111120239 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Also ebook licences for libraries expire, so often you can't get the earlier books in a series. The licencing is too restrictive, though there should be a per loan royalty, like on paper books in UK and Ireland. OTOH, the Internet Archive making up its own rules doesn't work either. Here the libraries can only buy paper books from the publisher. They can't shelve donated or S/H books. That's overly restrictive. The small royalty per loan isn't. The publisher should get no info apart from number of times loaned. Not the branch, person or date.

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