Overdrive and 0 copies, why?

[darryl]

Perhaps I am missing something, but, as kg3 posted above, the most likely reason, particularly with new releases, is that all copies are currently on loan. I've always assumed available referred to copies available for lending at the time you are browsing, If this is not the case has anyone come across a situation where there is one or more books "available" but you are nevertheless still invited to place a hold?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by darryl

Perhaps I am missing something, but, as kg3 posted above, the most likely reason, particularly with new releases, is that all copies are currently on loan. I've always assumed available referred to copies available for lending at the time you are browsing, If this is not the case has anyone come across a situation where there is one or more books "available" but you are nevertheless still invited to place a hold?

Usually it will show zero under Available Copies if all are loaned out (or if it's a pre-release), but have a quantity under Library Copies showing how many copies the library "owns" in total, not have zero for both.

[Terisa de morgan]

This is the message at my library;

Holds

Total holds: 6

Your holds position: #1 on 0 copies

This title is not currently in your library’s collection, so your hold isn’t moving forward. Your hold will start moving as soon as the title is added to the collection again.

[Dazrin]

I had that happen with a book I had recommended about 1.5 years ago. I suspect that they had turned down my recommendation and because I had chosen to be put on the waiting list if they bought the book it added it to my holds for some reason. Maybe in the vetting process they had put it on the "get" list and then changed their mind or something. Whatever they did there was apparently a bug in the system. I went back and forth with them a little and ended up just cancelling the hold. They still haven't gotten that book though.

Have also seen it on new releases too. Calamity by Brandon Sanderson just got added to my holds list and it doesn't get released until next Tuesday.

[darryl]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Usually it will show zero under Available Copies if all are loaned out (or if it's a pre-release), but have a quantity under Library Copies showing how many copies the library "owns" in total, not have zero for both.

Agreed. I didn't take the OP's question as referring to copies the library owned being zero as well, but his example clearly shows this. The only logical explanation I can think of is that this is a book that the library has ordered but has no copy as yet. I hesitate to use the term pre-release, as it seems that books are often released for some time before an ebook is made available to the library.

[Froide]

Originally Posted by issybird

All I can add is my own experience in the past, when I once had two books on hold with zero copies, a situation that persisted for a couple of months. I abandoned them; there seemed no point in using up two holds on books that would never materialize.

Perhaps your library system works differently from mine, but at the library systems I patronize, the number of checkouts is limited but not the number of holds.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Froide

Perhaps your library system works differently from mine, but at the library systems I patronize, the number of checkouts is limited but not the number of holds.

My library has limits for both. We get 15 checkouts at a time and also 15 holds at a time. It's set by the individual library.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I did post my question to one of the libraries in their email form. I just have to wait for a reply. I was hoping maybe someone here might know something.

I think libraries have to "repurchase" books after a certain period of time. Once that time period has expired they may opt not to repurchase and so it remains at zero.

My library shares books between 3 libraries. Sometimes a different library purchases the ebook rights and if it expires they may opt not to renew that license leaving the copies at zero.

To clarify a bit: Some libraries purchase ebook rights for x number of checkouts (say 12) OR for 1 year (time period). When that expires, they have to repurchase the book under whatever the contract requires. The payment for books varies.

But ask your librarian. It's a very complex situation with different rules for each publisher.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I think libraries have to "repurchase" books after a certain period of time. Once that time period has expired they may opt not to repurchase and so it remains at zero.

They can, but not in this case as the book in question isn't from a publisher with expiring licenses. Plus it was just released, so there wouldn't have been time for it to expire.

It's a very complex situation with different rules for each publisher.

It is complex.

The current Big 5 library rules are...

Penguin Random House
License: Perpetual
Prices: Varies, $65 per book max

HarperCollins
License: 26 loans then must repurchase
Prices: Varies, generally not more than cost of HC equivalent and often less

Macmillan
License: 2 Years/52 loans (whichever comes first) then must repurchase
Prices: Titles less than 12 month old $60, older than 12 months $40

Simon & Schuster
License: Expires after one year, then must repurchase (experimenting with 2 yr term for 1.5x price)
Prices: Generally more than consumer cost, but less than hardcover

Hachette
License: Perpetual
Priceing: Generally 3 times hardcover price.


Info from American Libraries Magazine
http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org...rms-011816.pdf

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

They can, but not in this case as the book in question isn't from a publisher with expiring licenses. Plus it was just released, so there wouldn't have been time for it to expire.


It is complex.

The current Big 5 library rules are...

Penguin Random House
License: Perpetual
Prices: Varies, $65 per book max

HarperCollins
License: 26 loans then must repurchase
Prices: Varies, generally not more than cost of HC equivalent and often less

Macmillan
License: 2 Years/52 loans (whichever comes first) then must repurchase
Prices: Titles less than 12 month old $60, older than 12 months $40

Simon & Schuster
License: Expires after one year, then must repurchase (experimenting with 2 yr term for 1.5x price)
Prices: Generally more than consumer cost, but less than hardcover

Hachette
License: Perpetual
Priceing: Generally 3 times hardcover price.


Info from American Libraries Magazine
http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org...rms-011816.pdf

Well, it is a new year and that structure may have changed (and may change for particular books). If he's in a shared library it may only be available to the branch that ordered it (the way my librarian explained it is that they can opt in to help pay for it and then it's available to them, but they don't have to opt in). So there are definitely multiple reasons it might not be showing up in his branch for him to check out.

Really, only the librarian at his branch can answer because every contract seems to be different.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I think libraries have to "repurchase" books after a certain period of time. Once that time period has expired they may opt not to repurchase and so it remains at zero.

My library shares books between 3 libraries. Sometimes a different library purchases the ebook rights and if it expires they may opt not to renew that license leaving the copies at zero.

To clarify a bit: Some libraries purchase ebook rights for x number of checkouts (say 12) OR for 1 year (time period). When that expires, they have to repurchase the book under whatever the contract requires. The payment for books varies.

But ask your librarian. It's a very complex situation with different rules for each publisher.

I did send a message to BPL and I've not heard back nor have they purchased this title again. I may follow up again next week.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Well, it is a new year and that structure may have changed (and may change for particular books). If he's in a shared library it may only be available to the branch that ordered it (the way my librarian explained it is that they can opt in to help pay for it and then it's available to them, but they don't have to opt in). So there are definitely multiple reasons it might not be showing up in his branch for him to check out.

Really, only the librarian at his branch can answer because every contract seems to be different.

That PDF was updated January 18, 2016. So those are the current rules.

[pidgeon92]

If you click on the ? next to the number of holds for the item, it says:

This title is not currently in your library’s collection. You can still place a hold on it, and your hold will move forward as soon as the title is added to the collection again.

Interesting that 58 people continue to have this ebook on hold, despite it being unavailable. Perhaps they don't monitor their hold list like I do. Of course, the hold limit probably isn't as low as it is in Chicago, where I can only have a maximum of 5 titles on hold.

[harriska2]

My overdrive library allows 6 holds and 6 checkouts. Fortunately everyone in the family has a library card. There are a few books I have been able to put on hold that were not out yet. Most are recommended and when someone gets around to adding it to the overdrive library I'll automatically get it added to my hold list, which then allows, apparently, more than 6 in that case.

[JSWolf]

The oddest thing just happened. An eBook I have on reserve that was not due in until February 16 has just become available and I was able to download it.