Illinois library contest aimed at changing e-book policies

[hardcastle]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Perhaps they haven't read this item.

http://botheyes.wordpress.com/2009/1...t-the-library/

Their math is incredibly foolish. You can't just divide the library's budget by how many items were borrowed. Not every item checked out was paid for using the library's budget that year, and libraries' budgets also include events, staffing, building maintenance and utilities, computer replacements and many other costs that must be paid by the library whether or not anyone checks out a single book.

A better approach would be to consider a fraction the library's budgetary costs as investment toward increasing each year's borrowed item count. The size of that fraction can also vary from library to library and likely varies drastically from month to month.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by hardcastle

Their math is incredibly foolish. You can't just divide the library's budget by how many items were borrowed. Not every item checked out was paid for using the library's budget that year, and libraries' budgets also include events, staffing, building maintenance and utilities, computer replacements and many other costs that must be paid by the library whether or not anyone checks out a single book.

A better approach would be to consider a fraction the library's budgetary costs as investment toward increasing each year's borrowed item count. The size of that fraction can also vary from library to library and likely varies drastically from month to month.

Here is something that may be more to your liking.

http://www.haplr-index.com/HAPLR_JUN...m#Observations

I find it interesting that over a 10 year range covering 39 states only 15% of the budget was 'invested' in items to be borrowed.

Helen

[hardcastle]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Here is something that may be more to your liking.

http://www.haplr-index.com/HAPLR_JUN...m#Observations

I find it interesting that over a 10 year range covering 39 states only 15% of the budget was 'invested' in items to be borrowed.

Helen

Yes, this is fascinating, thank you!

[dkperez]

I'd like to hear more about the chart on the library website showing why patrons aren't able to borrow the e-books they'd like. It would be nice if best selling authors and publishers that do and don't support libraries were shown in every library and on every library website...

Especially, when one of those authors uses the library to "give a talk" that's a thinly veiled session to do nothing more than pimp their new book, that they REFUSE TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE LIBRARY IN e-book form...