Can libraries face ebook challenge?
Ereaders are flying off the shelves and libraries are struggling to keep up. Can they continue to provide a free and local service? Barry Turnbull highlights some of the issues.
Posted by Elderjuice
on September 21, 2012. Filed under Lifestyle.
Posted with the tags:ebooks, ereaders, libraryYou can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Ereaders. Courtesy of John Blyberg
Libraries have been under threat for years, from the ever dwindling number of users to town hall cuts and now the digital revolution.
Many local authorities have decided to embrace the digital age by providing computer services as well as diversifying to meet community demands such as offering weight loss and stopping smoking classes.
Some have gone a step further and linked up with the world’s biggest affiliate programme for the online distribution of ebooks and audiobooks, Overdrive Media.
Ebooks
Ebook usage is forecast to overtake printed versions by 2020 which is a major challenge for public libraries.
But here’s the problem – Amazon is refusing to allow its Kindle device to be used for library downloads so immediately 86 per cent of potential readership has been wiped out.
This, of course, is because it sees no advantage in allowing free distribution via its branded reader.
The other problem is that publishing houses are not keen to see an ebook giveaway either. So much so, that one of the biggest, Penguin, has decided to block libraries from using its ebooks at all, quoting ‘security’ issues.
In 2011 Penguin’s ebook sales rocketed 106 per cent generating revenues of £126m.
Top authors included Jamie Oliver and Dawn French so if you are a fan and also have a Kindle – looks like you will have had to buy their books.
Overdrive
Overdrive lists devices that are compatible with its system, such as the Kobo touch at £79 or Sony reader costing £129.
Using the Overdrive system, borrowers can download the software for free and choose a book to read or listen to from their local library’s website. It then opens up in your Overdrive folder and can then be downloaded.
If most customers cannot access the system at a time when council budgets are being viciously cut back, one wonders how long a shelf life ebooks have in libraries.
It is a true dilemma as Ofcom figures show ebook usage has surged from 1 per cent to 10 per cent of adults with 55-64 year olds making up 14 per cent of the total.
But Overdrive say these issues are being addressed. The next generation of services is aimed at enabling all ebooks to be read on any web browser – whether on your computer or any other device.
Kindle
But the Kindle question has not gone away. Overdrive’s director of marketing David Burleigh said: “The goal is to be able to read a book on any device with a modern browser but until we test it across the board we can’t say for certain.
“We have more than 800,000 titles in our catalogue and more than 100,000 checkouts. We are very excited to introduce the next generation suite of services primarily to improve the usability of the service.
“We continue to advocate for libraries the acquisition of the most liberal digital rights and increased compatibility with more devices.”
Audiobooks
The Overdrive service also offers downloads of audiobooks in various different formats. This is a much more complex and challenging situation for the user as formats come in PC, Mac, WMA, iPad and MP3. In many cases you will have to burn to disc, then rip and convert to other formats.
Only a few audiobooks are offered in MP3 – easily the most accessible audio system for mobile devices.
Overdrive says it is also working to improve audiobook usability.
Ereaders
I roadtested the system adopted by Wirral libraries where a spokesman said they would look at buying more titles in MP3 format.
In my opinion the option of downloading a book rather than visiting the library will be attractive to lots of infirm and elderly users. The ereaders can be adjusted to increase the size of print and are portable.
If you are thinking of buying one or giving as a Christmas present the obvious market leader Kindle is no good if the user is reliant on free library services.
However other readers can do the same job of downloading books that can be purchased as well as taking advantage of free library books – my advice is do your research.
- Do you have, or about to get, an ereader? Would you be interested in using it for library downloads? Join the debate below.
8 Responses to Can libraries face ebook challenge?
Leave a Reply
Harry Miller
September 27, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I was considering getting a reader for my mum for Christmas as shes an avid reader, particularly of library books, Would almost certainly have got Kindle. Thanks!
Barry Turnbull
September 28, 2012 at 11:30 am
Well, you may be interested in the latest news. US rival to Amazon Barnes & Noble are launching their Glowlight and Nook producst in the UK this autumn. The devices starting at £80 have access to more magazines and books than Kindle and are library compatible. They will be available in PC World and Curry’s.
Lorna
September 28, 2012 at 4:33 pm
I was also planning to buy a Kindle for my Mother as a Christmas present, so this article has been very timely.
Thank you Barry for a well considered and informative article, and the update. I will check out the new devices when they launch!
Larry
September 30, 2012 at 12:45 pm
My kids dont read books any more – everything is on a portable reader now. It is the future I guess.
Barry Turnbull
October 1, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Sales of children’s ebooks were up 171% in the first half of the year according to the Publishers Association.
Nick Alexander
October 2, 2012 at 10:31 am
The issue of libraries lending ebooks is a complex and divisive one that needs to be seen not only from the perspective of users.
That we have a tradition in the UK of free public lending libraries is a fabulous thing, but the problem is that lending an ebook is not the same as lending a physical book.
There is a real qualitative difference between borrowing a tattered copy of a used physical book from a library, and owing your own, brand new, lendable, treasurable copy. This is why the existence of libraries has never had a negative effect on physical book sales.
The problem with ebooks is that there is no substantive difference for the end user between downloading an ebook from a vendor, or downloading it from a library. The experience for the user – an ebook on the reader – is the same, and thus, if you can get an ebook free from your library there is no reason whatsoever to ever buy one from an ebook retailer.
Add to this that the UK governement Public Lending Rights organisation provides small payments to authors for physical books lent by libraries (about 4p per lend) but nothing for ebook loans (Labour had planned to introduce this, but the coalition cancelled it) and you can start to see the problem for publishers and authors.
In addition, where a physical book will need to be re-purchased after about 20 reads, and can only be leant to one person at a time, ebooks have none of these restrictions inherently.
In the USA many libraries have started offering vast catalogues of ebooks for free loan (often at odds with publishers wishes) and I often get messages from fans telling me that they have borrowed my latest ebook for free from their library.
As an author who works flat out as I struggle to pay the same escalating fuel and food bills as every one else, I really do have a little trouble getting enthusiastic about that… Free ebooks from libraries really could be the end of publishing as we know it.
Nick Alexander
October 2, 2012 at 10:35 am
Also, in terms of choosing an ereader, beware that the availability of books from libraries isn’t the only criteria you should think about.
Others are overall pricing of books (Amazon’s kindle titles are almost always cheaper than the competition) and the number of free books available.
If you read mainly indoors rather than outside in sunlight, your best bet may be a flexible device like an ipad, as this will let you download books from Amazon kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, WH Smith’s Kobo, Google Play AND your local library. And of course, you can surf the web and play games on it too
Sue Robinson
October 3, 2012 at 11:27 am
Warning! It is great to be able to download a library book to an IPad or kindle. However another library user wanted to read the book I had borrowed after me and had made an e-book request on the library webpage. Without the old technology of the date stamp I didn’t realise the loan period had expired and I still had two chapters to read. I picked up my IPad to finish the story only to find the book had disappeared.I had to rush down to the library to borrow the paperback. .