FREE/BARGAIN - Science Fiction, Fantasy - 2016

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by alee

A copyright holder has no right to demand the destruction of any kind of physical copy that was legally obtained, which is generally the case for library collections. I thought that libraries are free to lend out their physical copies as they see fit under the first-sale doctrine, which doesn't apply to digital copies, since you're actually copying the bits when you lend them out.

The NYPL actually isn't a government entity; it's a private non-profit organization. Most of the funding for the circulating neighborhood branches does come from the city government, but the research libraries, including the main library on 42nd Street (the one with the lion statues in front) get nearly all of their funding from private donations. The NYPL also only operates in three of the five boroughts of NYC (Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island), while Queens and Brooklyn have separate public library systems, which are also private non-profit organizations.

I believe IA/OL destroy the physical copies when they create the digital. This may be how they are able to loan the ebook.

NYPL is supported by public funding and is, therefore, required to conform to NY State and Federal laws. According to the Wiki, "The NYPL, like all public libraries in New York, is granted a charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is registered with the New York State Education Department. The basic powers and duties of all library boards of trustees are defined in the Education Law and are subject to Part 90 of Title 8 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations."

That's what I mean when I say "government entity." Yes, it has, like most public libraries, a non-profit corporate structure but it still needs to follow the statutes set out by NY otherwise they can lose their funding.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But they aren't lending anything. They're making copyrighted material available for unlimited download. In all honesty I can't see how this constitutes a loan.

Hey, if life+70 qualifies as a limited time, "lending" for the remaining life of the borrower is too. After all, it's a whole 70 years shorter!

(And no, I'm not being serious here, it just struck me as amusing.)

[GreenMonkey]

Poking through my wishlist, I saw this was $1.99, I think that's half off the normal price.

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061134244/

Was recommended to me in a thread, haven't read any of her stuff yet.

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

Poking through my wishlist, I saw this was $1.99, I think that's half off the normal price.

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061134244/

Was recommended to me in a thread, haven't read any of her stuff yet.

It's good! *Totally* different from her Vorkosigan series, so clear out your mind of the one before you start the other. (Yes, I know you haven't read either! I recommend that you do, tho!)

[ATDrake]

X-link to the DRM-free megathread for the new Wildside Press freebie for this Tuesday:

The Poul Anderson Minipack™ with 2 vintage golden age science fiction shorts by the late Grand Master.

Also, some fantasy RPG stuff, and a reminder that the Humble Book Bundle Sci-Fi Classics with the Alfred Bester, Roger Zelazny, and Isaac Asimov reprints and Amber and Wild Card franchise tie-ins, etc. will be expiring tomorrow. They added another Bester novel and an Arthur C. Clarke licensed spin-off last week.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

It's good! *Totally* different from her Vorkosigan series, so clear out your mind of the one before you start the other. (Yes, I know you haven't read either! I recommend that you do, tho!)

I agree.

But then I have (and reread) everything she has ever published in pb, ebook and also many hc.

The Mountains of Mourning (short) is excellent and at $3.99 is a good start for the Vorkosigan universe.

http://www.amazon.com/Mountains-Mour...dp/B004O4C13W/

[alee]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I believe IA/OL destroy the physical copies when they create the digital. This may be how they are able to loan the ebook.

NYPL is supported by public funding and is, therefore, required to conform to NY State and Federal laws. According to the Wiki, "The NYPL, like all public libraries in New York, is granted a charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is registered with the New York State Education Department. The basic powers and duties of all library boards of trustees are defined in the Education Law and are subject to Part 90 of Title 8 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations."

That's what I mean when I say "government entity." Yes, it has, like most public libraries, a non-profit corporate structure but it still needs to follow the statutes set out by NY otherwise they can lose their funding.

It's not clear to me that this justifies calling the NYPL a government entity. The Board of Regents and the NYS Education Department are the same agencies that oversee all schools and colleges in New York, public or private, as well as many museums. For example, Cornell University wouldn't usually be considered a government entity, even though it has entire schools, such as their Ag School, that are funded by the state. The three public library systems in NYC do get most of the money for their local branches from the city, but I don't see that they're any more tightly regulated under state law than private, non-profit universities or museums.

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

If you're into shorter science fiction, Lightspeed's People of Colour Destroy Science Fiction (and fantasy and horror) kickstarter campaign ends in 7 hours. It's about $600 from its final stretch goal, and some of the backer options include a year's subscription to either Lightspeed or Nightmare magazine plus all the back issues.

Shoot, I missed this posting with all the family drama going on. I was hoping to get the rest of the Fantasy back issues. Oh well, hopefully they will have the option next year. So, no renewal. Well, maybe I'll get caught up on all those other backissues of Lightspeed and Nightmare from the previous two backings.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by alee

It's not clear to me that this justifies calling the NYPL a government entity.

Entity's definition is something with an independent existence. So libraries and schools while independent are created, funded, supported and tightly controlled by some part of local, state or Federal government. Schools especially.

The fact that I am forced to pay library and school taxes makes them a government entity or, if you prefer, a pseudo-quasi non-specific public blob.

[orangekiwi]

Sunshine by Robin McKinley is currently $1.99 in the US from Open Road Media

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/sunshine-23
http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Robin.../dp/B00OGWASCI

SYNOPSIS

Winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature: In a world where darkness threatens, there is Sunshine . . .

Although it had been mostly deserted since the Voodoo Wars, there hadn’t been any trouble out at the lake for years. Rae Seddon, nicknamed Sunshine, head baker at her family’s busy and popular café in downtown New Arcadia, needed a place to get away from all the noise and confusion—of the clientele and her family. Just for a few hours. Just to be able to hear herself think.

She knew about the Others, of course. Everyone did. And several of her family’s best regular customers were from SOF—Special Other Forces—which had been created to deal with the threat and the danger of the Others.

She drove out to her family’s old lakeside cabin and sat on the porch, swinging her feet and enjoying the silence and the silver moonlight on the water.

She never heard them coming. Of course, you don’t when they’re vampires.

[GlennD]

When following orangekiwi's link I noticed that The Outlaws of Sherwood, also by Robin McKinley, is $1.99 as well.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Outlaws-Sh...4K7NDDHBPS39DT

As you probably figured out from the name, it's a modern retelling of the Robin Hood story. It's been a while, but I quite enjoyed it when I read it around the time it was published.

[alee]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Entity's definition is something with an independent existence. So libraries and schools while independent are created, funded, supported and tightly controlled by some part of local, state or Federal government. Schools especially.

The fact that I am forced to pay library and school taxes makes them a government entity or, if you prefer, a pseudo-quasi non-specific public blob.

Library tax? Not for the NYPL, BPL or QPL. NYC's contributions to them are whatever the city council and mayor decide to put in the annual budget, with stability coming mainly from tradition and the likelihood of parents protesting large cuts. The city money comes with many strings attached, such as the city telling them how many hours a week the local branch libraries should be open, but their heads aren't chosen by anyone in government, and they don't seem to get any of the legal benefits of being considered part of the government, unlike the schools or public universities.

On the original subject of this thread, the public library systems in NYC all provide ebooks that are under copyright through Overdrive, like most public libraries in the US seem to, however close or distant their ties to government.

[Little.Egret]

UK Amazon Deal of the day had on 1st March

Gardens Of The Moon: (Malazan Book Of The Fallen 1) by Steven Erikson

Now

UK Amazon Deal of the day has (today, 3rd March 2016)

Deadhouse Gates: (Malazan Book Of Fallen 2) by Steven Erikson for 99P


http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0031RS6PU/

And also for 99P Alien Honor (A Fenris Novel Book 1) by Vaughn Heppner

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00C6NK82O/

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Shoot, I missed this posting with all the family drama going on. I was hoping to get the rest of the Fantasy back issues. Oh well, hopefully they will have the option next year. So, no renewal. Well, maybe I'll get caught up on all those other backissues of Lightspeed and Nightmare from the previous two backings.

Next year's Destroy kickstarter will be run by the publishers of Uncanny magazine, so it's likely that any boosters will be for Uncanny back issues instead of Lightspeed, Nightmare and Fantasy.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by alee

Library tax? Not for the NYPL, BPL or QPL. NYC's contributions to them are whatever the city council and mayor decide to put in the annual budget, with stability coming mainly from tradition and the likelihood of parents protesting large cuts. The city money comes with many strings attached, such as the city telling them how many hours a week the local branch libraries should be open, but their heads aren't chosen by anyone in government, and they don't seem to get any of the legal benefits of being considered part of the government, unlike the schools or public universities.

On the original subject of this thread, the public library systems in NYC all provide ebooks that are under copyright through Overdrive, like most public libraries in the US seem to, however close or distant their ties to government.

My city's property tax bill separates the tax rate into its various components. The city sets its rate, the library sets theirs, the school theirs and finally the county. Failure to pay any of them will result in a lien placed on my home. NYC may do it differently due to its size although they must list expenditures in a report somewhere and the library portion can be calculated if it isn't already.

The separate private non profit designation protects the city from certain liabilities. May offer the library tax exempt status and inclusion in pension funds and health care.

In any case, the Internet Archive has the same status as the NYPL and seems to be able to digitize its collection despite copyright.