03-06-2012, 10:19 PM | #76 | |
Wizard
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I can see both sides of the dispute. A fair solution would take into account the average times a pbook could be checked out before it had to be retired (due to damage). A surcharge is reasonable, the question is how much. You can't just expect publishers to make forced donations. Perhaps giving them tax credits instead as they get for real donations? Last edited by HansTWN; 03-06-2012 at 10:25 PM. |
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03-06-2012, 10:24 PM | #77 | |
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03-06-2012, 10:55 PM | #78 |
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03-06-2012, 11:06 PM | #79 | |
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I'm not saying 300% more is reasonable, but something above consumer level retail probably is. Libraries were often already paying double retail list though so how much of an increase above that might be justifiable? The publisher makes the point that a digital copy can be lent forever, but have they come out and guaranteed that they'll update the formats the library has if ePub falls out of use or the DRM scheme changes? What if OverDrive goes under, will the publisher guarantee transfer of the libraries copies to a different distributor? If they want to claim the digital copies last forever then they need to do something on their end to at least give libraries an actual expectation they will be. |
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03-07-2012, 08:26 AM | #80 | ||
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Different media = different means of distribution. |
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03-07-2012, 08:44 AM | #81 | |||
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This was a metaphor for what?
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So now <wanting to pay less than 300%>=<wanting to get it for free>. Another metaphor? |
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03-07-2012, 10:19 AM | #82 | |
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The access may feel free because you don't have to pay a fee at the door. But it's not free. It's paid for. So what I feel you are saying is that the fees we pay for libraries should be higher because corporate greed has gotten bigger. Cause libraries are not free. It's paid for. The books in the library are not free. They are paid for. Every year. So what I feel you are saying is that the fees we (you know, the paying public) should pay should be higher because corporate greed has gotten bigger. Gotta have those million dollar bonuses. Screw the public. Cause library books are not free. They are paid for. |
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03-07-2012, 11:18 AM | #83 | |
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When I purchase a paper book, I receive the right to lend it to someone else. I can, for that matter, give it to a library. Shocking, I know, but I have in fact done this very thing. eBooks should not be different, in my humble opinion. ETA: And no, I do not accept the "eBooks are forever!" explanation. I have books that are several decades old and still in mint condition despite being moved dozens of times and read more times than I can count. Last edited by anamardoll; 03-07-2012 at 11:20 AM. |
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03-07-2012, 11:24 AM | #84 |
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*sigh*
Sil_liS, my point is that the government should not step in to regulate prices -- especially since the government winds up being the recipient of its own largesse. The idea behind copyright is that the copyright holder is granted full control over how their works are distributed. It is conditional upon paying taxes, not on being forced to turn over one's books to libraries. The fact that a library wants a book in its collection does not give it the right to demand it and to force the vendor to provide it at a specific price-point. It is, in fact, perfectly legal and ethical for a manufacturer or publisher to charge different groups different amounts; it happens all the time. Penguin runs its own bookstore which sells directly to the public ( http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/shop/index.html ). They are perfectly capable, legally and morally, of charging the cover price for any book on that site, while selling to distributors and large retailers at 50% less than the cover price. They are not required, legally or morally, to cut the prices at their own bookstore when Amazon offers the book at 50% off the cover price. The existing restrictions on pricing do not apply to this situation. Random House is not discriminating based on race, gender or religion. They are not raising prices for all libraries in order to damage the competition. They are not charging extra for an essential good during a state of emergency. And, of course, many non-legislative approaches are available, and can be pursued. Libraries can cut back on buying RH's books; the ALA can work on public awareness; your local library can encourage patrons to express their displeasure to RH. Thus, it is not an appropriate response to this situation to demand the government to "fix the bad publisher." |
03-07-2012, 11:29 AM | #85 | ||
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Library books are frequently lost, stolen, spilled upon, torn up, written in and the like. Children's books take a lot of wear and tear, so libraries often purchase a more rugged binding for them. There is little basis for comparing the lifespan of a book in your private collection, and one in a public library. |
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03-07-2012, 11:38 AM | #86 | |
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Occasionally, when the book starts to wear, they put some heavy clear tape on the spine. Sometimes they do it prior to the wear starting, too. Other than that...it's a MMPB. |
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03-07-2012, 12:15 PM | #87 | ||
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03-07-2012, 12:30 PM | #88 |
how YOU doin?
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*sorry, ignore this*
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03-07-2012, 12:37 PM | #89 | |
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Not even close.
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Last edited by ucfgrad93; 03-07-2012 at 12:43 PM. Reason: typo |
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03-07-2012, 12:52 PM | #90 |
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There are pbooks in my library that look at least 80 years old.
Somehow I just doubt that a book in mobi or ePub will be practically accessible to the average user using whatever holographic reader we will have in 80 years. Heck, I have stuff I wrote in college with WordPerfect or whatever and I have trouble reading it now. And my stuff isn't even DRMed and there are no copyright or licensing issues. Chances are libraries will be forced to update and repurchase these supposedly perpetual ebooks well before then. |
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