Penguin seems to have declared war on elibraries - at least for kindles

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

from other things I'm reading, like on Teleread, it sounds like one of the issues may be (and I stress *may*) that some libraries like the Free Library of Philadelphia are selling out-of-area memberships.

As someone who uses Philadelphia libraries, but also works in Philadelphia and thus pays the city income tax, this seems strange. It's hard to believe that the memberships are expensive enough to be profitable for the library. Also, the Philadelphia Library gives free eBook services to everyone in Pennsylvania. Suburban counties, despite having smaller selections, do not reciprocate.

If people do not have to get off their duff and go to the library to borrow a book, individual end-user book sales will go down. I don't know how you get around that.

[tubemonkey]

Penguin is winning this battle, because very few care enough to punish them.

Penguin 10 - Customers 0

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

If people do not have to get off their duff and go to the library to borrow a book, individual end-user book sales will go down. I don't know how you get around that.

Works for me. I haven't borrowed a DTB in over 10 years. eBooks and eReaders made it possible for me to borrow books from the comfort of my home; and I'm loving it.

I did pay a visit to my library today to renew my account. There were a few blocks requiring me to physically show them proof of my residence. It's been that way for years, but I never did anything about it since I was still able to borrow ebooks online.

Anyway, I was there less than 5 minutes and left. Man, has it changed; but then, it's been years since I've been there. I wonder what it'll look like the next time I drop by?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by abookreader

I just ran a search on my Overdrive library site for Penguin Publishing and all the ePub and ePDF books remain, only Kindle format is gone.

Looks like another Amazon/Publisher war.

Again. Why is it the readers who always take it in the gut during these things?

According to what's been said elsewhere, for now, there won't be any new Penguin titles added to the library's Overdrive borrowing.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Seems to me that Penguin's action is a reaction to Amazon's unilateral decision to permit Prime members to borrow books. I say this because Penguin didn't remove the ePub versions from Overdrive. Amazon likes to push the limits. Unfortunately, when it goes too far from the perspective of its suppliers, the reaction tends to hurt the consumer more than Amazon.

One other thing to consider. Amazon is establishing itself as a direct competitor to Penguin. In the past, the only issue was Amazon's price-setting policies. Now that Amazon has aggressively entered the publishing business and the competition to sign authors as a publisher, it is an even greater threat to Penguin and the other publishers. I expect that has also played into Penguin's decision. After all, how much should it want to support what is becoming a direct competitor?

So in order to fix things, do you think that Amazon would be better to get back to doing what Amazon does best which is selling things and get out of (seemingly) infringing on publishers territory?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So in order to fix things, do you think that Amazon would be better to get back to doing what Amazon does best which is selling things and get out of (seemingly) infringing on publishers territory?

No, Amazon needs to continue stirring the pot. How else are we going to get the publishers into the 21st century?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Blossom

No it's just libraries. If you check out the stores ebooks are still being schedule to be released by them.

It's also Amazon in Canada as well. Amazon is Canada isn't selling Penguin's eBooks. Kobo is though,

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

No, Amazon needs to continue stirring the pot. How else are we going to get the publishers into the 21st century?

But there has to be a way to do this that doesn't impact users. If Amazon's Prime eBook Lending is really illegal, then I would think Amazon would need to stop it.

I don't like to see a battle between Amazon and the publishers where the eBooks users are the ones caught in the middle and not for the good at all.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapt...e-in-libraries

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Penguin is winning this battle, because very few care enough to punish them.

Penguin 10 - Customers 0

Is them Penguin or Amazon?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But there has to be a way to do this that doesn't impact users. If Amazon's Prime eBook Lending is really illegal, then I would think Amazon would need to stop it.

I don't like to see a battle between Amazon and the publishers where the eBooks users are the ones caught in the middle and not for the good at all.

Users need to be impacted big time to get them off their complacent butts. Amazon can't do it alone.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Users need to be impacted big time to get them off their complacent butts. Amazon can't do it alone.

So what do you think users can do about this situation?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So what do you think users can do about this situation?

BOYCOTT

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

BOYCOTT

But Penguin could then turn around and say to the users "eBooks just don't sell anymore". And we again would lose.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But Penguin could then turn around and say to the users "eBooks just don't sell anymore". And we again would lose.

And so would authors, who'll flee to greener pastures.

It's not an easy fight and will be a lengthy battle.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

And so would authors, who'll flee to greener pastures.

It's not an easy fight and will be a lengthy battle.

It just seems that whatever happens we get caught in the middle with neither side doing what is best for the readers.