HarperCollins to libraries: we will nuke your ebooks after 26 checkouts

[PeterT]

From BoingBoing:

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/02/25...ns-to-lib.html

LibraryGoblin sez, "HarperCollins has decided to change their agreement with e-book distributor OverDrive. They forced OverDrive, which is a main e-book distributor for libraries, to agree to terms so that HarperCollins e-books will only be licensed for checkout 26 times. Librarians have blown up over this, calling for a boycott of HarperCollins, breaking the DRM on e-books--basically doing anything to let HarperCollins and other publishers know they consider this abuse."

[SlowRain]

That's not very nice of them.

[rogue_librarian]

How's that for a euphemism? That said, this is discussed in these threads already.

[GlenBarrington]

I think it's a shame, but libraries, especially public libraries, will find the struggle for survival very difficult in the future. Libraries really only make sense economically and culturally when knowledge, and intellectual property of any sort is rare and relatively expensive.

We are entering an era where knowledge and intellectual property has become commoditized. The issue isn't making sure everyone has access to this information by storing it in special treasure houses, it is now separating the valuable information from the useless.

In the past, any intellectual property encountered was a treasure that needed to be cared for and preserved. Now, it's as likely to be a nuisance as it is a treasure. Culturally, the internet has taken the place of the library. I'm not sure it's better, but it sure is different!

[rogue_librarian]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Culturally, the internet has taken the place of the library.

I couldn't disagree more.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by rogue_librarian

I couldn't disagree more.

Can you expand on your thoughts? I think the cultural shift that the internet has brought about is quite profound, and we need to explore all avenues.

[vasilisg]

how can i view in 2 pages mode any help?

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by vasilisg

how can i view in 2 pages mode any help?

It depends on the device and software being used. . .

[Keryl Raist]

I'm at the library about once a week, once every other week. I usually go on Saturdays, but sometimes during the week. On Saturdays there's a pretty good crowd. During the week (except during story time) it's me and maybe two other moms and a few kids and the three retirees that are always there.

Back in the dark ages before the internet here's what you saw at the library: People browsing books, sometimes using computers to write papers/presentations, people using the common spaces for meetings, people letting their kids play in the kid area.

What happens there now: People online. People waiting to get online. People using the common areas for meetings. People letting their kids play in the kid area. What I'm seeing almost none of is people taking out books. And what I'm seeing absolutely none of is people between the age of 15 and 40 taking out books. The few faces I see among the stacks are older or younger.

Ten years ago the books on hold section was the entire back wall behind the counter. Now it's two full book cases.

Libraries haven't noticed that it's time for them to change their structure. Their value now is not as a place to find books. It's as a place to meet other people or get online. From what I can see they'd be better off with a central warehouse for most of the books, with smaller satellite buildings that offer some adult books, but mostly focus on kids books, computer use, and public meeting space.

As for Harper Collins, they own the books, if they want to do a 26 download license, I don't see why they can't. Granted if they already have a contract for unlimited downloads, I don't think they can or should change it. But for any books going forward. I don't see the problem.

[rogue_librarian]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Culturally, the internet has taken the place of the library.

Certainly. A library is not just a random collections of books (or all media, for that matter), it is a curated collection, a selection of what's available, geared towards the needs of its patrons (as general or specialized as they may be). It has, by necessity, a system to order that available collection, to sort, categorize and make available to its patrons. It has specialist staff that can help them track down what they're looking for, make further recommendations etc. It is, in other words, almost but not entirely unlike the internet.

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I think the cultural shift that the internet has brought about is quite profound, and we need to explore all avenues.

Oh, certainly. It's just not taken the place of libraries, and don't think it ever will. I'd be a fool to argue that the internet is not important or hasn't brought about profound changes.

[spellbanisher]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I think it's a shame, but libraries, especially public libraries, will find the struggle for survival very difficult in the future. Libraries really only make sense economically and culturally when knowledge, and intellectual property of any sort is rare and relatively expensive.

We are entering an era where knowledge and intellectual property has become commoditized. The issue isn't making sure everyone has access to this information by storing it in special treasure houses, it is now separating the valuable information from the useless.

In the past, any intellectual property encountered was a treasure that needed to be cared for and preserved. Now, it's as likely to be a nuisance as it is a treasure. Culturally, the internet has taken the place of the library. I'm not sure it's better, but it sure is different!

I agree on your point that public libraries are no longer storehouses of rare treasures, but I still believe that libraries serve many important functions. For some people the library is their only connection to the internet or the best place they can go to print and make copies of papers. They also can provide many more useful public services. My local library offers free language learning programs, tutoring services for kids and adults, job skills classes, job boards, readings for kids, and book clubs. Iibraries are still great resources for the many who don't own computers or can't afford to buy a lot of books. For instance, when Warren Buffet became interested in investment, I think he was twelve, he went to his local library and read every book he could find on investment. Perhaps he could have done that today with the internet, but most or perhaps all lof the books he read were copyrighted. The library isn't just a place for books. It's a public resource that people without a lot of resources can draw from to better themselves.

University libraries are especially important because they house lots of cultural documents and archives. Librarians and archivists are especially skilled at organizing information as well as sifting through vast amounts of information to find relevant data. Their vast expertise and experience simply cannot be replaced by search techniques. They are invaluable to the research process. The also work to preserve, maintain, and digitize important books and other documents.

Perhaps the actual physical libraries will become increasingly unnecessary. Most of the services that public libraries offer could probably be done online. I guess we could online consult research librarians online as well. But I think closing our temples of knowledge would be tragic. Libraries are more than storehouses for books or public places offering public services. They are symbols and monuments to our faith in the power of knowledge, to our belief that its dissemination benefits us all, that it is above the petty concerns of profit or self-interest, that some sort of public culture, no matter how enfeebled, still exists. Our willingness to support libraries, and other public institutions, is a testament to the belief that the people in a nation or community are one, that their are fates somehow intertwined, that in a democratic culture some things, perhaps the most important things, belong to all the people.

[Joykins]

If the lines at the checkout counter in the closest library are anything to go by, and the huge piles of books at the return counter are anything to go by, people are still using the library to check out books. Yes, there are a bunch more people online, but books are still circulating like mad.

[sufue]

My local libraries seem just as packed every time I go in. But, I notice I'm going in less now that I'm mostly reading e-books. So, if many people are like me, then there probably are less people going in...

[spellbanisher]

The only reason people seem to use my local libraries is to rent movies and to use the computers.

[jerrywojo]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Culturally, the internet has taken the place of the library. I'm not sure it's better, but it sure is different!

I visit my local library once or twice a week. The vast majority of patrons are on library PC's, browsing the DVD's, in study rooms or doing other activities that don't necessarily relate to reading books.

The "library" has become a hive of cultural activity in the internet era.

Its become more than reading books. On the flip side this expansion to other services have put $$$ burdens on many library systems. In fact our mayor in all his wisdom suggested that the library should just do books. Yes we are in trouble.