Canadian Public Libraries for Fair Ebook Pricing Launches Website

[trainboy]

via infoDOCKET.

New coalition of organizations launches web page and tool.

"The page features examples of the “price gap” between consumer and library prices, illustrated by a selection of popular titles, and includes social media sharing with hashtag #FairEbookPrices, as well as email collection for those interested in updates on the issue"


At the bottom of the post I also noticed links to two recent reports about library access to ebooks in Canada.


http://www.infodocket.com/2015/06/15...ublic-website/

[Barcey]

Glad to see it. Those prices are outrageous.

[HarryT]

Why does it outrage you that a licence to lend a book to multiple people would cost more than a licence for a single user? Multi-user licences pretty much always cost more than single-user ones.

[eschwartz]

I think the terms are more outrageous than the price.

Having to pay again e.g. every year or every 26 loans is just straight-up gouging.

[Turtle91]

I didn't see actual prices in that link, but, in general, prices for a multi-user license should not exceed the price for that many single licenses... In fact, a bulk purchase is usually cheaper than buying the same amount of single licenses.

Admittedly, I don't know the intricacies of library lending licenses, but I would assume that libraries aren't buying one license then lending it out multiple times simultaneously... so the price of a single ebook license for a library should not be more than the price for a single ebook license to an individual...just like a pbook...

[Turtle91]

If you want to see the examples of price gaps visit their full website:

http://www.fairpricingforlibraries.org/

[Barcey]

They have example prices on the actual website they launched.

http://www.fairpricingforlibraries.org

Example: Michael Connelly 'The Burning Room'
Customer Price: $15.99
Libraries Pay: $106.00

[Turtle91]

ooooh...I did a ninja!!

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why does it outrage you that a licence to lend a book to multiple people would cost more than a licence for a single user? Multi-user licences pretty much always cost more than single-user ones.

Because it's way more expensive than what a library would pay for an equivalent paper book. The lending model is structured so it's equivalent to the paper book but the price is multitudes more. Also libraries are able to receive donated paper books for lending but not for ebooks.

I read a separate article that stated the Toronto Public Library working policy is to buy one ebook for every 6 people on the waiting list. The nature of best sellers is that there is a peak interest and then few borrows. If you do the math the 'borrows' are costing almost the same as each user buying the book yet it's coming out of my tax dollars.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Barcey

They have example prices on the actual website they launched.

http://www.fairpricingforlibraries.org

Example: Michael Connelly 'The Burning Room'
Customer Price: $15.99
Libraries Pay: $106.00

Is that $106 for a limited time period, or one with a limited number of loans, or is it an "eternal" licence? If it's the latter, it's probably justified by the fact that library users (if my own library is anything to go by) tend to be rather hard on books, and a popular paper book will have to be replaced at relatively frequent intervals, particularly if it's a paperback. Ebooks do not degrade.

[Turtle91]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is that $106 for a limited time period, or one with a limited number of loans, or is it an "eternal" licence? If it's the latter, it's probably justified by the fact that library users (if my own library is anything to go by) tend to be rather hard on books, and a popular paper book will have to be replaced at relatively frequent intervals, particularly if it's a paperback. Ebooks do not degrade.

Good point!
What happens if their harddrive crashes and they don't have any 'back-em-ups'? (Are they even allowed to create backups) Do they have to purchase them again? Or what if the power grid goes down over the entire world!! It seems like electronic doesn't necessarily mean eternal...just more resilient.

The whole idea that I don't "own" the ebook that I paid for, and therefore can't give it to somebody, lend it to somebody, let my kids read it, or donate it to my local library, really grates on me. In my mind I should have the same rights as if I had purchased a pbook...it's just in a different format.... but that's another topic.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is that $106 for a limited time period, or one with a limited number of loans, or is it an "eternal" licence? If it's the latter, it's probably justified by the fact that library users (if my own library is anything to go by) tend to be rather hard on books, and a popular paper book will have to be replaced at relatively frequent intervals, particularly if it's a paperback. Ebooks do not degrade.

While that is a valid point, there are other considerations.

1) Does an ebook actually receive 6.6 times the usage of a print book? (To use the provided example.)

2) Does the library have the same rights with ebooks, such as the ability to perform inter-library loans or sell extra copies once the peak in interest has diminished?

3) Does eternal actually mean eternal? Electronic books may not degrade, but the service providers may either go out of business or otherwise become less desirable (e.g. changes in price structure).

I also find the attitude of publishers quite antagonistic. It seems as though they want to reap the benefits of electronic publishing, but want to limit the benefits that other parties can enjoy.

[ottdmk]

The best information I can find on the issue is this pdf from American Libraries Magazine. It was last updated last April. While this is a US based document, my guess would be that terms to Canadian libraries are quite similar.

So the Random House division of Penguin Random House charges roughly 3-4 times the HARDCOVER price of a book to libraries. On the plus side, the licenses are perpetual.

The Penguin division on the other hand, charges about the same as what they charge consumers, but the license is only for a year.

HarperCollins also charges roughly what they charge consumers, but the license is for 26 loans. This is the subject of an informative YouTube video.

MacMillan both charges more ($40 for a backlist/$60 for a "within the last six months" title) and has a term limit: 2 years or 52 loans, whichever comes first. (See the video above.)

Simon & Schuster generally charge a bit less then the hardcover price for a 1 year lending period. They recently (Nov 2014) dropped their "Buy it now!" website button requirement.

Hachette currently charges three times hardcover for a perpetual license. Pricing is "at their discretion" though and subject to change.

So basically, libraries are getting gouged. The best ones are Random House & Hachette and even there they're getting charged through the nose for an individual copy.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is that $106 for a limited time period, or one with a limited number of loans, or is it an "eternal" licence? If it's the latter, it's probably justified by the fact that library users (if my own library is anything to go by) tend to be rather hard on books, and a popular paper book will have to be replaced at relatively frequent intervals, particularly if it's a paperback. Ebooks do not degrade.

The Burning Room is published by Hachette and their titles have no term limits.

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is that $106 for a limited time period, or one with a limited number of loans, or is it an "eternal" licence? If it's the latter, it's probably justified by the fact that library users (if my own library is anything to go by) tend to be rather hard on books, and a popular paper book will have to be replaced at relatively frequent intervals, particularly if it's a paperback. Ebooks do not degrade.

It's not even close to justified they aren't re-buying every copy, let me explain. The Toronto Public Library has 100 branches. Assume they order 2 copies on average per branch $28 each (hard cover). They misjudged the popularity and there are 120 people on the waiting list. Using the 6:1 ratio they buy another 20 copies. Total $6,160. If 5 of those books are totally destroyed in the first 3 months, the peak lending is over, they likely wouldn't purchase new, they'd just pitch them. With a 2 week lending period the maximum they could lend the books is 26 times in a year. They do minor repairs and rate the condition of the books. After a year or two demand has dropped and they need shelf space so they start getting rid of copies, starting with the worst first. Assume they actually purchase 10% of the books again that's only another $600.

Compare that to the $106 per ebook. If they had to buy the same number at peak demand it would be $23,320.