Libraries Demand Better eBook Services

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

The amount that goes to the number of police we have driving around this community (where a major crime wave may be some kid vandalizing a few houses) in their tricked-out $80,000 SUVs on the other hand . . .. But I stray off topic. Libraries are a prime example of something funded by everyone for the public good.

I don't suppose it occurred to you that part of the reason petty vandalism is your worst crime may be because you have visible police driving around? You make it sound like you think libraries are for the public good, but police are not.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by CyGuy

For me that is the very definition of "library"...

Then libraries must not have existed before e-books, because it wasn't possible to loan paper books forever. They had to be replaced at some point.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

The difference, as my local librarian recently explained it to me, is quite simple. As murraypaul said, they, like anyone, can buy a copy of a pbook (or a CD) and lend that one copy to anyone they choose. No copyright violation, no copying of the media.
But to lend an ebook (or an mp3 download) to ANYONE inherently involves copying it. That would be a copyright violation.

A technicality since a library has the same loan restrictions with ebooks as it does with physical books - one copy, one loan; two copies, two loans; etc.

It would be different if a library bought one copy of an ebook and then loaned it out to more than one person at the same time; but they don't.

Laws need to catch up with digital technology.

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

Then libraries must not have existed before e-books, because it wasn't possible to loan paper books forever. They had to be replaced at some point.

I find it weird with paper books. I either see books whereby the same exact copy has been loaned out for decades (I can tell by specific wear and tear marks, and pencil marks on certain pages, etc), and yet some books, in nearly brand new condition, go into the discard sale for 50c!

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

Personally, I think you should have to go in to the library to check out eBooks as well - that way if your money is more important than your time, you can get library books like always, otherwise you can buy the book (And cut down on what is going to be an ever growing burden on the libraries as more people realise that it is as easy to borrow as buy in eWorld).

Well, right now I'm in that situation because my card expired and I can't borrow ebooks until I go in and renew it [even though renewal is free, it must be done in person], and two other libraries that I could have free access to won't issue me a card until I show up in person, so I now have three libraries that I could be borrowing from, but don't because I can't seem to ever get there while they're open.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

The tax to pay for it will be 20 cents for every $100 in taxable property you own.

Or basically, $2 for every $1,000. Have a modest (say $100,000) home, the library will cost you $200 a year.

I alone have already read a couple dozen non-self-published, non-public domain, books this year, and there are four readers in my household. So just from a selfish standpoint, not considering library services to the unemployed, impoverished, etc., this tax sounds reasonable to me.

As for the OP statement, I like it. Probably I would have put more emphasis on some publishers overcharging libraries for eBooks (and for journals!) compared to what the general public pays. Lack of integration between the paper and eBook library catalogs doesn't much both me; the search.overdrive.com ability to check all the libraries for which we have cards makes up for it. Friction and taxes, in return for actually being able to, with patience, get the eBook, is for me a good trade-off.