Smashwords titles head for Libraries

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

The trouble with open epub non-DRM library books is they can't be returned early. If you borrow one and finish it in a day you are stuck with it taking up one of your checkouts until the loan period expires. If your library allows only a few checkouts at a time, this can be a problem. I avoid borrowing open epub library books for this reason. If my library starts carrying Smashwords books I hope they will have library DRM.

A surprisingly compelling reason for DRM!

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

...after you check out the ebook. Which is fine.

I was thinking in terms of pre-checkout: listing them separately, ghettoizing the indies. If indies are to give libraries leverage against the...unfriendly...terms of the BPH titles, they need to be comingled in the catalog. Let them know they have competition for the library dollar and the patron's attention.

The biggest reason indies aren't in libraries are: Librarians. They do their research--for any book that goes into my local library, one or another librarian checks several review sources, mainly Library Journal (indies can be reviewed by LJ or will be soon). Once librarians determine that Smashwords means self-published many of them will avoid the books. My library has a standing policy to not stock self-published titles even if donated. They are not unique in this.

That is not to say I like the policy. That is not to say there are not libraries who are friendly to all authors. But by and large, libraries want to pick and choose which books are in their library and they are in the habit of looking to see who published said books.

So this will not be a free-for-all because libraries STILL must purchase the books via overdrive and that means they will be doing their research.

There are a lot of libraries opening up to indies--they do their research and they have various ways of determining if the book is a good fit. But this is not likely to be a huge boost to indie authors.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

The biggest reason indies aren't in libraries are: Librarians. They do their research--for any book that goes into my local library, one or another librarian checks several review sources, mainly Library Journal (indies can be reviewed by LJ or will be soon). Once librarians determine that Smashwords means self-published many of them will avoid the books. My library has a standing policy to not stock self-published titles even if donated. They are not unique in this.

This is true. Librarians have very limited funds and are forced to make difficult decisions on what materials to purchase. My librarian, when asked about self/indie authors, said if their books have an ISBN and are available from B&T, they can be purchased upon request.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Fbone

This is true. Librarians have very limited funds and are forced to make difficult decisions on what materials to purchase. My librarian, when asked about self/indie authors, said if their books have an ISBN and are available from B&T, they can be purchased upon request.

Mine and the Houston Library I asked said, 'You can submit a request and it will be considered." But when you ask if they would shelf a donation, the answer is the same--"If it is donated, we will consider it for our collection, but there is no guarantee it will be shelved."

That's librarian speak for "we really don't want it."

That said, my local library did buy 3 of my paperbacks and smaller, country libraries will often accept donations and shelf them. You can get a different answer every single place. They do have limited budgets and some are happier to see authors than others!

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Mine and the Houston Library I asked said, 'You can submit a request and it will be considered." But when you ask if they would shelf a donation, the answer is the same--"If it is donated, we will consider it for our collection, but there is no guarantee it will be shelved."

That's librarian speak for "we really don't want it."

That said, my local library did buy 3 of my paperbacks and smaller, country libraries will often accept donations and shelf them. You can get a different answer every single place. They do have limited budgets and some are happier to see authors than others!

Due to space limitations my library doesn't accept donations. As it stands, for every book they purchase, one must be removed from inventory.
They've greatly reduced the number of ebooks they obtain from Overdrive. Sometimes adding only 20 titles a month. I don't know if they will consider titles from Smashwords.

[crossi]

Ebooks don't have space limitations like paper books. If the price is good and the reviews are good for an indie the librarians need to rethink their mindset. Especially at the prices the BPHs are asking. At least long enough to give the BPHs something to think about.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by crossi

Ebooks don't have space limitations like paper books. If the price is good and the reviews are good for an indie the librarians need to rethink their mindset. Especially at the prices the BPHs are asking. At least long enough to give the BPHs something to think about.

I agree. Larger collections give borrowers greater variety.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by crossi

Ebooks don't have space limitations like paper books. If the price is good and the reviews are good for an indie the librarians need to rethink their mindset. Especially at the prices the BPHs are asking. At least long enough to give the BPHs something to think about.

The limitation with ebooks is Overdrive's administration costs which have doubled in recent years. Libraries, including mine, were left reeling with the unexpected burden they now face in the new contract. My library doesn't promote ebooks like they used to and have reduced new purchases to a few dozen each month.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Fbone

The limitation with ebooks is Overdrive's administration costs which have doubled in recent years. Libraries, including mine, were left reeling with the unexpected burden they now face in the new contract. My library doesn't promote ebooks like they used to and have reduced new purchases to a few dozen each month.

Bingo. Overdrive/software/leasing, whatever you want to call it is hugely expensive. Some libraries do continue to buy ebooks via other means. One in Houston set up their own ebook catalog--but you have to have money for that as well. My library bought Kindles, NOoks and Ipads. Then they just buy books. But they will only buy a limited amount for each device.

And I'm not trying to be a killjoy, but this change isn't likely to change a lot. Not very fast.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Some libraries do continue to buy ebooks via other means. One in Houston set up their own ebook catalog--but you have to have money for that as well.

The answer to this is to form consortiums for increased buying power.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The answer to this is to form consortiums for increased buying power.

I can't remember if they did or not--once again though the software was their main issue. The difference is they are only buying books that they can use indefinitely. Mine were on the list to be bought, but they ran out of money before doing so. I don't know if it will work out for them long term or not. Readers want a catalog that changes -- and they do want best sellers and authors they have heard of. None of the big publishers are going to do a "buy once, read forever" deal with libraries. And maintaining private software can become very expensive as well.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I can't remember if they did or not--once again though the software was their main issue. The difference is they are only buying books that they can use indefinitely. Mine were on the list to be bought, but they ran out of money before doing so. I don't know if it will work out for them long term or not. Readers want a catalog that changes -- and they do want best sellers and authors they have heard of. None of the big publishers are going to do a "buy once, read forever" deal with libraries. And maintaining private software can become very expensive as well.

It wouldn't be an all or nothing proposition. The idea is to get libraries to expand their collections without having to go through middlemen like Adobe and OverDrive. This collection of books would supplement their existing catalogs of best sellers and authors [readers] have heard of, thereby giving taxpayers greater variety and more bang for their buck.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It wouldn't be an all or nothing proposition. The idea is to get libraries to expand their collections without having to go through middlemen like Adobe and OverDrive. This collection of books would supplement their existing catalogs of best sellers and authors [readers] have heard of, thereby giving taxpayers greater variety and more bang for their buck.

That is exactly what they are/were trying to do. They still have overdrive.

[crossi]

How much would a system like Overdrive cost to implement? The US library system could fund it for the entire US. The cost to implement the system would be made up in avoiding OverDrives costs.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by crossi

How much would a system like Overdrive cost to implement? The US library system could fund it for the entire US. The cost to implement the system would be made up in avoiding OverDrives costs.

There is no US library system. Libraries are funded at a local level. In some cases that is city taxes, in others state, in others county. And anytime it's a government entity contracting for a system, it gets expensive in a hurry--and runs behind and so on.