HOW does the library/overdrive/publisher thing work?

[Scott Nicholson]

Overdrive is also not the most lean machine in the biz, either--I have a direct upload account there and books take a long time to roll through the system. It's very primitive--publishers have to FTP their files, as well as Excel spreadsheets of metadata, and basically do a very specific presentation. The system is so primitive that you can ONLY access your account if you use Internet Explorer...

So I'd say it's a mix of a clunky system, fear of free books, fear of piracy, and the world is rapidly changing yet libraries are stuck in old affiliations that are 10 years behind the times. Say what you want about Amazon, but if THEY were running the library system...

[emellaich]

Originally Posted by gracie

So, just out of curiosity, what's likely to drag these <series of expletives deleted> publishers into the 21st century?

I'm not saying they are right (or wrong) but it's not a tech decision, but a money decision. Of course, we would like an unlimited supply of free ebooks from the library, but the publishers must be convinced its the most profitable approach for them.

Putting books in the library has some positives for them. No doubt there is some revenue gained. Also, library books may prove to be promotional and lead to sales of related books that aren't in the library.

On the other hand, there will clearly be negative effects on revenue also. No doubt many library readers will be new and not cannibalize sales; however, I think you can argue that at least some readers who would have purchased a specific book will now check it out. Furthermore, people can only read one book at a time, and an unlimited supply of free books may reduce purchases.

The problem is that no one knows which effect is larger. Furthermore, all the evidence now is not necessarily indicative of the future. Experiments that are run before easy consumption devices and wide availability of ebooks will not necessarily give the same results when ebook is the primary reading platform. It is easy for those of us who want free ebooks to ask for them to get with the game. It is tougher for those whose incomes rest on the status quo to accept irreversible changes that may destroy their business. Furthermore, it's not like they are making ridiculous profits. Take a look at their profit margins and they aren't huge as a percent.

My guess is that they are doomed because there is no way to save their business model. Writers will go independent and publishing services will be consumed ala carte. Small scale authors will do everything on their own. Mid-list authors will contract for editing, covers, etcetera. And, big time writers will turn to an agent/manager who will arrange for editing, cover art, and promotion. The public will use the rating systems on places like Amazon to replace the screening function provided by publishers today. Finally, there will be the emergence of genre specific critics who will recommend the best books either because they love the genre or because they earn money through affiliate arrangements.

If this scenario is true, there really is little place for the big publisher in the future. Their only hope is to fight a rearguard action so that they can make money on the current model for as long as possible. Don't expect to see them rushing to put themselves out of business.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by Scott Nicholson

Overdrive is also not the most lean machine in the biz, either--I have a direct upload account there and books take a long time to roll through the system. It's very primitive--publishers have to FTP their files, as well as Excel spreadsheets of metadata, and basically do a very specific presentation. The system is so primitive that you can ONLY access your account if you use Internet Explorer...

So I'd say it's a mix of a clunky system, fear of free books, fear of piracy, and the world is rapidly changing yet libraries are stuck in old affiliations that are 10 years behind the times. Say what you want about Amazon, but if THEY were running the library system...

Interesting!

I've recently experienced my third recent audiobook problem where parts of the book are either missing, or refuse to download (correctly). I had thought it was sloppy publishers, but now I'm not so sure Overdrive itself isn't (at least partially) at fault.

[J. Strnad]

Gracie, I'm going to give you the best insight you're ever going to get. It's a cosmological awareness that very few people ever achieve. Most people reading these words will dismiss them offhand, which is to be expected. But honestly, this observation will hold you in good stead for the rest of your life. It will explain the unexplainable, it will reconcile the irreconcilable. Take these words to heart, and they will reward you countless times throughout your life. Are you ready? Here they are:

We live on the wrong side of the looking glass!

Yes, if we could only get through the mirror, we'd find a world where everything proceeds logically from everything else, where everything makes sense.

But no, we're on "the other side."

It explains so much.

Adjust your expectations accordingly.

[gracie]

I hate to admit it, but you're right... I WANT things to proceed in a logical, rational way, and the often just DON'T!

For example, in the earlier post, emellaich, commented on things going on between publisher and library, patron and library... Where I have a problem with his/her analysis is that I don't see a difference between paper and e-book. If I can go to the library and get Tom Clancy's "Locked On" on PAPER, HOW does it benefit the publisher or the library or me if I can't get it as an ebook? I"ll either read it on paper, or not read it at all.

And if I haven't read Tom Clancy before, and Locked On would have been my introduction to him, and/or I take him off my author list because I'm irritated that is publisher won't make the book available as an ebook in my library, there's LESS chance that I'll read other Tom Clancy books, which reading would increase the demand so the publisher can sell other ebooks to the library and on and on...

It sounds to me like the kind of short-term mindset of a company that's going out of business... "We'll keep going the way we are, and get as much money as we can this quarter, and next quarter will have to take care of itself."

BUT, as you said, I'm clearly on the wrong side of the looking glass!

[Scott Nicholson]

emillaich, publishers do have one advantage--a huge pool of content.

Whether they use that content wisely is critical for their survival. Right now several of the big publishers are working on their own ebook stores. They may be able to make money with their own libraries (Prime lending library model). If they can sucker enough authors into long-term contracts--er, trade on the dying vestiges of their legitimacy--they may be able to cash in with adaptability, lean functioning, and jumping from Negative 1 to 3 on the Big Digital Scoreboard. Then they can cash in on sponsorships and advertising with their strength of sheer numbers.

Unfortunately for them, everything they do is a faint echo of Amazon, so how can they ever hope to catch up? The average indie author is already light-years ahead of the average publishing company.

I have no emotional investment in the survival of publishers. It's not like there won't still be books.