Waitlists for Library Books Have TRIPLED Since Xmas!

pokee · 12-31-2010, 06:46 PM

I have 4 books on hold at our online library and I went back today (after putting a few on hold just before Xmas) and the waitlists for the books I selected have tripled! Looks like I'll be waiting a while for some popular books from now on! Or, I'll just have to buy them!!!

Anthem · 12-31-2010, 09:18 PM

Haha, nice! My wife (who loves to borrow from the online library) understands what you are going through. She had to wait about a month and a half for a book that she wanted to read (author's name withheld but it was a "popular" one) and by the time she was allowed to borrow it she no longer wanted to read it.

Yikes!

La Coccinelle · 12-31-2010, 09:39 PM

Yeah, I've noticed that it's getting more difficult to get e-books from the library. They really don't have enough copies, considering how the demand is growing...

desertgrandma · 12-31-2010, 09:56 PM

In the meantime, you all may be missing out on some great reads available here, in the Patricia C. Clark Memorial Library.

Public Domain, by authors who have withstood the test of time, and knew how to write.

Over 15,000 available, no waits, free downloads.

Formatted by our own members, proofed for errors and extraneous pages.

Click on my link below for help getting started.

Mysterio · 01-01-2011, 09:31 PM

Why can't libraries make multiple copies of an e-book file available for check out?

desertgrandma · 01-01-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysterio

Why can't libraries make multiple copies of an e-book file available for check out?

Because they have to pay for each copy?

And since the copies are drm'd, that would be illegal?

Thats my best guess.

SeaBookGuy · 01-01-2011, 10:13 PM

They have to pay by the copy, just as they'd have to pay for each hardcover.

I haven't noticed hold time issues, but I tend to read more obscure nonfiction.

Suzanna · 01-01-2011, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysterio

Why can't libraries make multiple copies of an e-book file available for check out?

Most books do have multiple copies available - at our library, anyway. However, the publishers (I believe) limit the amount of copies available through libraries because they do want people to also buy ebooks.

PeterT · 01-02-2011, 01:02 AM

I think it would have to do with the contract that the library signs with the actual provider. For many libraries, it would appear that they use OverDrive. I expect that they contract with OverDrive for the number of copies of eBooks to be made available, and also for the addition of new material.

3d0g · 01-02-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Because they have to pay for each copy?

Exactly.

One of the bitter ironies of a tough economy is demand for public library resources goes way up yet funding goes down.

La Coccinelle · 01-02-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sao

Most books do have multiple copies available - at our library, anyway.

Unfortunately, in British Columbia, all the e-books are provided by one online library. There are multiple copies of many books, but maybe only 3 or 4... for the whole province! Whereas, with a regular hardcover or paperback, there might be 3 or 4 copies in each library branch.

Maybe they think that e-readers are still not that popular. I hope they figure out that that assumption is wrong... and soon!

KoboNo · 01-02-2011, 03:31 PM

Organizations pushing eBooks and selling them have not matured yet. How silly is it that an electronic book cannot be made available to any number of customers that want it? As a public resource, a library's customers are its members and thus these books should be available to all.

The advantage of an eBook is that is is electronic, hence the 'e'. For whatever reason many groups are still treating them as physical books with a limited number of copies. I understand they want to keep the control with licences but when you have a child that would like to sign out an electronic book that can easily be signed out, but for the reason of licencing crap it cannot, it absolutely is disgusting.

In those regards eBooks are no more advantageous when compared to physical books. And with stories such as these, people wonder why kids use file-sharing applications to get what they need. One reason is because they cannot sign out a book that should and actually is available to them but licences prevent them from doing so. Yuck!

3d0g · 01-02-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KoboNo

Organizations pushing eBooks and selling them have not matured yet. How silly is it that an electronic book cannot be made available to any number of customers that want it? As a public resource, a library's customers are its members and thus these books should be available to all.

You do realize that most books in the library (well, US libraries at least) are purchased, right? They can no more afford to have 500 paper copies of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo than electronic versions. I'm sure if you were an author, your position would be a bit different.

KoboNo · 01-02-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3d0g

You do realize that most books in the library (well, US libraries at least) are purchased, right? They can no more afford to have 500 paper copies of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo than electronic versions. I'm sure if you were an author, your position would be a bit different.

I do understand this, yes. However, the advantage of an electronic book versus a physical book is not seen in the example I provided. Clear up one thing for me then, please. Does a company, say Kobo, have an endless 'supply' of electronic books to sell or are they limited as well to sell, let us say 500 copies?

abookreader · 01-02-2011, 04:08 PM

I've never heard of any retailer (including Overdrive) being restricted in the number of eBooks they can sell to customers.

They are quite often however restricted from discounting the price, even for large orders.

Overdrive (the main distributor that sells eBooks to libraries) pretty much charges the price of a full book, often higher than Amazon or Kobo etc, for each and every eBook license. They then are responsible for the computing power behind the check-out and DRM process for the libraries.

12-31-2010, 06:46 PM	#1
pokee Fanatic Posts: 569 Karma: 199759 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Glo, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Tab2	Waitlists for Library Books Have TRIPLED Since Xmas! I have 4 books on hold at our online library and I went back today (after putting a few on hold just before Xmas) and the waitlists for the books I selected have tripled! Looks like I'll be waiting a while for some popular books from now on! Or, I'll just have to buy them!!!

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12-31-2010, 09:18 PM	#2
Anthem Guru Posts: 704 Karma: 1622328 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle Oasis, OnePlus Nord	Haha, nice! My wife (who loves to borrow from the online library) understands what you are going through. She had to wait about a month and a half for a book that she wanted to read (author's name withheld but it was a "popular" one) and by the time she was allowed to borrow it she no longer wanted to read it. Yikes!

12-31-2010, 09:39 PM	#3
La Coccinelle Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 432 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo (original)	Yeah, I've noticed that it's getting more difficult to get e-books from the library. They really don't have enough copies, considering how the demand is growing...

12-31-2010, 09:56 PM	#4
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	In the meantime, you all may be missing out on some great reads available here, in the Patricia C. Clark Memorial Library. Public Domain, by authors who have withstood the test of time, and knew how to write. Over 15,000 available, no waits, free downloads. Formatted by our own members, proofed for errors and extraneous pages. Click on my link below for help getting started.

01-01-2011, 09:31 PM	#5
Mysterio Member Posts: 22 Karma: 1114 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	Why can't libraries make multiple copies of an e-book file available for check out?

01-01-2011, 10:13 PM	#7
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	They have to pay by the copy, just as they'd have to pay for each hardcover. I haven't noticed hold time issues, but I tend to read more obscure nonfiction.

01-02-2011, 01:02 AM	#9
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,683 Karma: 79983758 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I think it would have to do with the contract that the library signs with the actual provider. For many libraries, it would appear that they use OverDrive. I expect that they contract with OverDrive for the number of copies of eBooks to be made available, and also for the addition of new material.

01-02-2011, 03:31 PM	#12
KoboNo Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 12098 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kobo	Organizations pushing eBooks and selling them have not matured yet. How silly is it that an electronic book cannot be made available to any number of customers that want it? As a public resource, a library's customers are its members and thus these books should be available to all. The advantage of an eBook is that is is electronic, hence the 'e'. For whatever reason many groups are still treating them as physical books with a limited number of copies. I understand they want to keep the control with licences but when you have a child that would like to sign out an electronic book that can easily be signed out, but for the reason of licencing crap it cannot, it absolutely is disgusting. In those regards eBooks are no more advantageous when compared to physical books. And with stories such as these, people wonder why kids use file-sharing applications to get what they need. One reason is because they cannot sign out a book that should and actually is available to them but licences prevent them from doing so. Yuck!

01-02-2011, 04:08 PM	#15
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	I've never heard of any retailer (including Overdrive) being restricted in the number of eBooks they can sell to customers. They are quite often however restricted from discounting the price, even for large orders. Overdrive (the main distributor that sells eBooks to libraries) pretty much charges the price of a full book, often higher than Amazon or Kobo etc, for each and every eBook license. They then are responsible for the computing power behind the check-out and DRM process for the libraries.