libraries, audiobooks, and cost

John F · 07-18-2018, 04:22 PM

I was talking to my librarian, and audiobooks came up. His comment was that they are expensive ($90) for the library, and that they had to rebuy them after one year.

This was for the U.S., and I believe he was referring to Overdrive.

Sorry if the price/renewal has been posted before ( I don't read this forum very often).

booklover6 · 07-20-2018, 06:45 AM

That's very interesting. So if 100 people listen to such an audio book in one year, that breaks down to .90 a person, of which the author/publisher/narrator gets their cut.

So if my math is right, then subscription audio books such as Audible Romance Package and Scribd, are quite comparable in payout. Just as I suspected.

John F · 07-20-2018, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

That's very interesting. So if 100 people listen to such an audio book in one year, that breaks down to .90 a person, of which the author/publisher/narrator gets their cut.

So if my math is right, then subscription audio books such as Audible Romance Package and Scribd, are quite comparable in payout. Just as I suspected.

Doesn't your math seem a little aggressive? That would mean that the average loan period at a library is 3.6 days.

Tarana · 07-20-2018, 11:54 AM

Average time for a library loan for a hot title is 10 days; 14-21 days of not. So 100 people per copy over a year isn't likely. Keep in mind that most of these folks wouldn't have purchased the book anyway. If 30 of these people pass on that it's a good book, that likely increases sales of the book.

booklover6 · 07-21-2018, 08:41 AM

I check them out for 7 days. Takes me two or three days to listen. I return and start another.

Deskisamess · 07-21-2018, 09:50 AM

Many folks don't have that kind of free time available to them. I don't use audio books very often, because I can't multi-task when I listen, and my free time is in smaller chunks, 40 minutes at a time or less.

I imagine it is why libraries have different lending times...ours has 7, 14, and 21 days. Not everyone returns finished items early either.

Tarana · 07-21-2018, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

I check them out for 7 days. Takes me two or three days to listen. I return and start another.

Yes, but you are not average. My librarian said that only 20-25% of those checking out ebooks or audio books return before due date. As you know, they automatically return on due date, unlike physical copies. Some of that is due to being unable to return them early, but for the most part, the hot title arrives when you are still reading another book so you may not start it right away.

Catlady · 07-21-2018, 11:41 AM

I generally use a three-week checkout period. I had some eight books automatically (and unexpectedly) borrowed in the past week--holds and recommendations bought by the library; this in addition to a few books I already had out on loan. I return them as I finish them, but even though I might need only a day or two to finish them, some of them won't go back until the end of the loan period.

booklover6 · 07-22-2018, 07:41 AM

I multi-task, and sometimes hardly seem to pay attention to what I am listening to. If a sex scene comes on that I'm not interested in, I fast forward it. So that is a lot of the romance I listen to. I am positive I could not get through a Robert Jordan like that, or any kind of more in-depth book! Maybe that's not typical. But like the one I am reading right now, it's #5 in a series, so even though I don't like the characters or the setting, I want to get through it to the next one. Maybe I'll pay more attention to #6!

07-18-2018, 04:22 PM	#1
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,157 Karma: 63764653 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Glo HD	libraries, audiobooks, and cost I was talking to my librarian, and audiobooks came up. His comment was that they are expensive ($90) for the library, and that they had to rebuy them after one year. This was for the U.S., and I believe he was referring to Overdrive. Sorry if the price/renewal has been posted before ( I don't read this forum very often).

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Forums -- Public Libraries & Audiobooks	tubemonkey	Feedback	6	03-25-2013 11:34 PM
If You Think The Cost Of 'Piracy' Is High, What About The Cost Of Enforcement?	xg4bx	News	136	05-21-2012 01:03 PM
New story - The High Cost of Living, or The Cost of Doing Business	garp1781	Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers	0	06-03-2011 05:13 PM
US Libraries use Windows Media DRM to expire audiobooks	Alexander Turcic	News	1	08-30-2005 06:40 AM

07-20-2018, 06:45 AM	#2
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	That's very interesting. So if 100 people listen to such an audio book in one year, that breaks down to .90 a person, of which the author/publisher/narrator gets their cut. So if my math is right, then subscription audio books such as Audible Romance Package and Scribd, are quite comparable in payout. Just as I suspected.

07-20-2018, 11:54 AM	#4
Tarana Wizard Posts: 3,977 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	Average time for a library loan for a hot title is 10 days; 14-21 days of not. So 100 people per copy over a year isn't likely. Keep in mind that most of these folks wouldn't have purchased the book anyway. If 30 of these people pass on that it's a good book, that likely increases sales of the book.

07-21-2018, 08:41 AM	#5
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	I check them out for 7 days. Takes me two or three days to listen. I return and start another.

07-21-2018, 09:50 AM	#6
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,607 Karma: 42697471 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 7+, iPad mini, 2021 iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8"	Many folks don't have that kind of free time available to them. I don't use audio books very often, because I can't multi-task when I listen, and my free time is in smaller chunks, 40 minutes at a time or less. I imagine it is why libraries have different lending times...ours has 7, 14, and 21 days. Not everyone returns finished items early either.

07-21-2018, 11:41 AM	#8
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I generally use a three-week checkout period. I had some eight books automatically (and unexpectedly) borrowed in the past week--holds and recommendations bought by the library; this in addition to a few books I already had out on loan. I return them as I finish them, but even though I might need only a day or two to finish them, some of them won't go back until the end of the loan period.

07-22-2018, 07:41 AM	#9
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	I multi-task, and sometimes hardly seem to pay attention to what I am listening to. If a sex scene comes on that I'm not interested in, I fast forward it. So that is a lot of the romance I listen to. I am positive I could not get through a Robert Jordan like that, or any kind of more in-depth book! Maybe that's not typical. But like the one I am reading right now, it's #5 in a series, so even though I don't like the characters or the setting, I want to get through it to the next one. Maybe I'll pay more attention to #6!