Returning library books early, locked account

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Fifty print books -- or 50 Overdrive downloads?

I would assume OverDrive, since the Seattle Public Library allows 25 OverDrive titles to be checked out at any given time. King County allows 20 titles and Pierce County allows 30 titles.

[Catlady]

Yup, 50 downloads.

It really is crazy when the maximum time is 21 days.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Yup, 50 downloads.

It really is crazy when the maximum time is 21 days.

Ummm ... if one were to "liberate" them ...

[Sydney's Mom]

I think it is called time-shifting. . .

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Ummm ... if one were to "liberate" them ...

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I think it is called time-shifting. . .

or

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I think it is called time-shifting. . .

Yes, something that most fail to realize, if the library has an ebook available to download and read, then the library has all ebooks available to download and read. The possibility of reading everything exists and so we will take it.

I guess the publishers realize this which is why they are trying to tie revenues to downloads. Also, when it comes time to ask the taxpayer for more taxes, Seattle public Library could say, "Look at all these downloads we have."

Downloads do not equal reads though.

[Sydney's Mom]

I have no problem with publishers basing their charges on downloads. They should be able to figure out how to do that, and how not to make the ebooks ridiculously expensive. If a pbook falls apart after 26 checkouts, then making you rebuy the ebook after 26 checkouts may be the way to go, or maybe the way to go is to just charge per check out. Of course, a library isn't able to just guarantee payment-if everyone in the library district takes out the book, if the per checkout charge is high, it might not be doable. So I would propose something minimal per checkout, up to a max, at which point the book would be unavailable.

[SeaBookGuy]

Rather than by checkout - how about by year - with a decreasing scale until after two or three the library can then keep it? That way, if a library orders several copies for demand in a "hot" series' new entry they can cut back to 1 or 2 permanent ones. A thought ...

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Rather than by checkout - how about by year - with a decreasing scale until after two or three the library can then keep it? That way, if a library orders several copies for demand in a "hot" series' new entry they can cut back to 1 or 2 permanent ones. A thought ...

Great idea - I think that is what they are trying with 26 checkouts. Except they are charging full price (I assume, don't know). 26 checkouts wouldn't even last a year for popular books - at least I return them the earlier of when I finish reading or the due date.

I think the publishers are so scared by ebooks and what happened with the music industry, they aren't thinking straight. I understand that you have to make your money with concerts now, no one makes money on just the CD.


Oh, but what do I know . . .

[Giggleton]

I might have posted this in this thread but here I go again, for the interim period of digital reading pre-sans copyright.

Libraries could offer unlimited downloading of samples of books and then only take the hit (publisher's fee) when the full version of each book is downloaded. I'm not sure how much the publisher's are charging for each download, or if they even charge by download, but if I can "purchase" a book from the library for 50 cents, then that would be fine.

[Hellmark]

I've started using the St Louis County library for overdrive access, and they let 10 simultanious checkouts. I currently have 8 books checked out, and a bit worried about lock out. I've been limiting returns to one a day, which kinda sucks. The books I checked out are the Encyclopedia Brown books, and they're averaging about 45 pages each. I read through one of them on my morning break here at work.

[Sydney's Mom]

Chicago Public Library just started offerring samples. It is the best of all worlds. But I started reading a book I have on hold last night, and now I want to finish it!

[abookreader]

I've tried a couple of times to trigger a lock-out on our library Overdrive and I've never been able to make one happen. Is it a library optional setting perhaps?

Regardless, from what I can tell I don't believe it is the number of books you return at once (like 8 in one day). It seems to be more of a very short check out time for one book ... like under 5 minutes or so.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by abookreader

I've tried a couple of times to trigger a lock-out on our library Overdrive and I've never been able to make one happen. Is it a library optional setting perhaps?

Regardless, from what I can tell I don't believe it is the number of books you return at once (like 8 in one day). It seems to be more of a very short check out time for one book ... like under 5 minutes or so.

Yeah, I've gleaned that much so far, but like i said, the books I'm reading are extremely short and I've been finishing them almost as soon as I start reading them, so I'm rationing out the returns to a day (that is 24 hours after checking out at minimum). One person made claim that they were locked out after returning within 48 hours. I don't want to be thought a pirate because the book is so short that I read it in 15 minutes.

[FizzyWater]

True...I think the time it happened to me, I realized I'd downloaded a book I'd already read so I immediately returned it without even thinking. Next day...no access (and was locked out for 2 or 3 days).