Macmillan Ends Library Embargo

[library addict]

macmillan-abandons-library-e-book-embargo

March 17, 2020

Dear Librarians, Authors, Illustrators, and Agents,

There are times in life when differences should be put aside.

Effective on Friday (or whenever thereafter our wholesalers can effect the change), Macmillan will return to the library ebook pricing model that was in effect on 31st October 2019. In addition, we will be lowering some ebook prices on a short term basis to help expand libraries' collections in these difficult times.

Stay safe.

John

[NNolan]

Yay! I didn't realize how many of the authors I read are through Macmillan until they made that policy change a few months back.

[Mims]

Thanks for posting this. Its nice to see some good news today.

[John F]

... Macmillan will return to the library ebook pricing model that was in effect on 31st October 2019...

What was the pricing model?

[CRussel]

It was a bad policy, and I don't care how they rationalize the change, I'm glad to see it.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by John F

What was the pricing model?

They were windowing the availability of books to libraries to one copy regardless of the size of the library system. After 8 weeks they could buy more at the higher prices.

The Big 5 publishers charge libraries more than double the price of digital books, Many also limit the number of checkouts for a license and once the book has been checked out x number of times they have to buy a new license. And/or after y number of months they may have to repurchase the license.

Here is an article specifically about the embargo that Macmillan ended today. https://www.npr.org/2019/11/01/77515...om-the-library

and the letter John Sargent sent in July 2019 John Sargent Letter Changes to Library Lending Terms. Basically they were arguing that it was too easy for customers to check the book out from the library and if they made it more difficult people would instead buy the book themselves rather than wait or read a different book.

[fjtorres]

They had little choice.
Independent bookstores are closing all over. B&N storefronts, too.

https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html

Temporary Bookstore Closures Expand Nationwide

Eagle Eye Book Shop in Decatur, Ga., is offering store pickup.
What began late last week with a handful of independent bookstores announcing temporary closures has become the norm. Dozens of indies nationwide have now sent out notices to customers relaying the bad news, along with offering numerous alternative ways to support local booksellers as well as heartfelt expressions of concern. Here's just a small sampling of the messages being shared during these troubling times:

Much more at the source.

The NYT forsees major problems:


https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/b...s-authors.html

In these isolated times, many people are inside reading, but the book business, like others, is bracing for catastrophe. Major literary festivals and fairs around the world have been canceled. Public libraries have closed. Author tours, signings and bookstore appearances have been scrapped.

As the severity of the coronavirus outbreak continues to intensify, authors, publishers and booksellers are struggling to confront and limit the financial fallout. Many fear the worst is yet to come, including more store closures and potential disruptions to warehouse and distribution centers, as well as possible paper shortages and a decline in printing capacity.

And even Amazon is focusing their warehouses and logistics on pandemic and houseware supplies. For now it's merchant services but their inhouse supplies are sure to follow because they pick up books at the publisher facilities, so they have more pressing uses for those trucks and shelves.

https://www.newsday.com/business/ama...rus-1.43255691


https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-pri...irus-outbreak/

Amazon is now prioritizing shipments of medical supplies and household staples that come into its warehouses to help it respond to massive consumer demand during the coronavirus outbreak.

This means independent sellers on its sites will no longer be able to ship new deliveries unless they fit into these high-demand categories. The change is in effect until April 5 for both the US and European Union marketplaces.

"We are seeing increased online shopping and as a result some products such as household staples and medical supplies are out of stock," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.

"With this in mind, we are temporarily prioritizing household staples, medical supplies, and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers so we can more quickly receive, restock, and deliver these products to customers. We understand this is a change for our selling partners and appreciate their understanding as we temporarily prioritize these products for customers," the spokesperson continued.

Amazon has been making several quick changes to respond to shoppers flocking online to buy goods amid shortages, lockdowns and health fears. In addition to it prioritizing certain items, the e-commerce giant said Monday it plans to hire an additional 100,000 people in the US to help it manage the surge demand during a typically slower time of the year for retailers.

These changes should help ensure more customers get much-needed supplies to their homes and allow Amazon to more quickly build up stocks of these high-demand items. But the change could also harm many small businesses that rely on Amazon for sales.

Amazon said it's taking similar steps with both sellers and its own vendors.

Suddenly, sacrificing ebook sales to promote dead tree pulp sales isn't a viable strategy.

Expect a lot of ebook promotions and discounts from the "big 5" in times to come.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by John F

What was the pricing model?

Not great but it wasn't a near full embargo:

https://the-digital-reader.com/2020/...e-to-covid-19/

...library ebook prices up to 4 times retail, and a 52-loan limit per copy...

Not exactly generous.
But since online is just about the only way they're going to make money in the near term...

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Suddenly, sacrificing ebook sales to promote dead tree pulp sales isn't a viable strategy.

Expect a lot of ebook promotions and discounts from the "big 5" in times to come.

Karma.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Skydog

Karma.

But their Karma is impacting everybody around us, including lots of innocents and ebook readers.
An asteroid hitting NYC would've achieved similar result but spared everybody else.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

But their Karma is impacting everybody around us, including lots of innocents and ebook readers.
An asteroid hitting NYC would've achieved similar result but spared everybody else.

Yeah, I think I'd rather be without books from one publisher in my local library than deal with this karma!

[Deskisamess]

Perhaps the current issue gave Macmillan a more graceful way to back-peddle on their decision. They can attempt to make themselves look as if they are doing something to help their fellow man. The spin doctors are most likely very happy about this opportunity to make themselves appear altruistic.

[Cedros]

Thanks for posting this good news. And thanks to Macmillan! I hope the other big publishers quickly follow their example.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Cedros

Thanks for posting this good news. And thanks to Macmillan! I hope the other big publishers quickly follow their example.

None of the others had embargoed libraries so they don't have that to walk back. Doesn't mean they're library friendly, just not as bad as MacMillan.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

None of the others had embargoed libraries so they don't have that to walk back. Doesn't mean they're library friendly, just not as bad as MacMillan.

But they can follow the example to stop following to implement embargoes in the first place.