Most U.S. readers unaware of e-books at libraries: poll

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

And some fans of e-books see libraries as the enemy. I remember on one Kindle board, several posters were gleeful when Borders closed.

Libraries as the enemy? I don't get it. And how does that relate to Borders closing?

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Libraries as the enemy? I don't get it. And how does that relate to Borders closing?

Because print books take away resources and attention from eBooks, I guess? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me though.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Because print books take away resources and attention from eBooks, I guess? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me though.

I've seen something similar. Some people have turned into ebook evangelists - "Ebooks are so awesome and pbooks are inferior and need to be eradicated! Embrace the future! Assimilate!" It's the flipside of traditionalists who think ebooks are ruining literature.

An acquaintance of mine expressed a sentiment along those lines but couldn't actually explain WHY, so I think it comes down to "I'm embracing ebooks and pbooks threaten my need to be right about everything." I think it's weird.

[tubemonkey]

I've totally embraced digital technology. I don't need physical bookstores or libraries to get content. While I won't actively push for their demise; I also won't do anything to prevent it. If they go under, such is life.

The times are changing; and people who make buggy whips had better get with the times or they'll become irrelevant too.

[Rockbobster]

Not a big deal. The pickings are slim, and the waiting list can be long for popular titles. See for yourself.


Fifty Shades of Grey
Fifty Shades Trilogy, Book 1
by E L James
Average rating:

Sign in & rate this title.
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is...
Available copies: 0 (490 patron(s) on waiting list)
Library copies: 81

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Rockbobster

The pickings are slim, and the waiting list can be long for popular titles. See for yourself.

That waiting list is likely to be just a couple months long.

I would much rather they get one copy each of ninety different books which, unlike the one you mention, got good reviews.

Acquisitions librarians have a tough job balancing literary merit against what the largest number of patrons AKA taxpayers want.

[andreabc]

Originally Posted by Rockbobster

Library copies: 81

81 copies?? (I'm not one to tell any library how to spend their budget, but... seriously?)
Does any other ebook have anywhere near that many copies available?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by andreabc

81 copies?? (I'm not one to tell any library how to spend their budget, but... seriously?)
Does any other ebook have anywhere near that many copies available?

Some of my libraries have even more copies

• King County = 247 copies (1,031 patrons on waiting list)
• Seattle Public = 119 copies (603 patrons on waiting list)
• Pierce County = 90 copies (481 patrons on waiting list)
• Sno-Isle Libraries = 79 copies (403 patrons on waiting list)

[silasgreenback]

My small local library system tries to let patrons know about new ebooks. Some of the younger librarians set up a Ning website and post updates several times a week regarding Overdrive purchases and other goings on. The downside is that most people that are visiting the library proper don't tend to stray from the DVD stacks or computers, so the Ning website has very few registered users or page views. Despite the notices at the desks and valiant effort by the maintainers, the website and news seem to go unnoticed for the most part.

I suppose all of that's good news for me and the few other patrons that use the Overdrive library, they add more and more books all the time and the wait, if any, is typically very short. Bully for us, but the big picture is a little depressing.

I reckon if more people knew they could get their dirty little mitts on this, they'd at least have a point A on their path to literacy:

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

I would much rather they get one copy each of ninety different books which, unlike the one you mention, got good reviews.

Acquisitions librarians have a tough job balancing literary merit against what the largest number of patrons AKA taxpayers want.

In order to be relevant, libraries need to acquire books that patrons want and they need to do so within a reasonable timeframe. Not only do they risk facing opposition from "taxpayers" if they don't, but they also risk losing the backing of people who would otherwise use the library. Many other institutions have gone this route (e.g. museums, theatre) and found themselves dwindling to irrelevance.

[Asher_N]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dalliard

Am I the only one who finds the whole idea of a library "lending" ebooks (and with an artificial limit on how many copies can be lent at any one time..) utterly ludicrous?

Yes, you might be. Libraries have to purchase the ebook. They can only lend the copies they purchased. It is no different from libraries not photocopying books for lending.

Waiting lists are long because people are lazy. When I get an ebook from my library, I get a choice of 7, 14 or 21 day loans. If I pick 21 days, finish in 5 and don't bother 'returning' it, it's locked for another 16 days. Most people are too lazy to 'return' ebooks.