tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post2707738788139580168..comments2023-11-16T18:28:45.786+08:00Comments on Rambling Librarian :: Incidental Thoughts of a Singapore Liblogarian: eBooks for Public Libraries: Is the current business model sustainable?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-53556765287356297612010-10-17T18:29:52.650+08:002010-10-17T18:29:52.650+08:00Hi Friends,
Thanks for the great article mentione...Hi Friends,<br /><br />Thanks for the great article mentioned, business model of ebooks also implies to niche topics & content quality on which ebooks are made and for the target customers. Due to advancement in technology from iphones,ipads to kindle information at finger tips is a lucrative business. I was going for a vacation to mauritius but I didn't knew anything about the places to visit,rules for visa, how can i save few dollars while my visits and all the prequisites I searched on internet for mauritius vacation and found a great ebook on www.ebooksyours.com/mauritius.html and I just purchased this ebook within seconds got an instant delivery in my mailbox and studied sitting in plane knowing everything about Mauritius. So this is the power of ebooks.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />JennyJennyhttp://www.inferno.co.innoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-14722609104957659642010-09-18T10:25:03.529+08:002010-09-18T10:25:03.529+08:00The model that you describe for e-books certainly ...The model that you describe for e-books certainly makes them seem unreasonable for public libraries. That's not the model I've seen in the US from Amazon, though. The one-year limitation is not part of that model. What I suggested to one of my readers who wanted to donate a Kindle to the library is that the library loan out the Kindles (to adult patrons who sign a special contract). Typically, a book will come with six simultaneous device licenses (some have fewer: some are unlimited). Let's say the e-book is $9.99, and the p-book (paperbook) is $15. For $9.99, six patrons at a time can have the e-book. That's $1.67 per simultaneous use. The p-book is $15 per simultaneous use. The p-book will decay over time: the e-book won't. The EBR (E-Book Reader) will decay over time and there will be loss or theft (although the borrower can be held responsible for those, just as they can be with p-books they borrow). However, two e-book purchases as I've described (6 for $9.99 instead of 6 for $90) saves the cost of the replacement device ($180-$19.98=$160.02...the lowest priced Kindle is $139 in the US).<br /><br />Your article is well-written, and I enjoyed reading it. It just isn't the only possible model.Bufo Calvinhttp://ilmk.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-26349439345450512062010-04-23T03:48:54.823+08:002010-04-23T03:48:54.823+08:00You have some great information on this blog! You ...You have some great information on this blog! You really go into depth regarding the subject and topics you cover. I would have to agree about the problems with eBooks and the financial feasibility of buying them for libraries. <br /><br />Thanks for the info. and great blog!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07376646796423360040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-5266184773730642892010-04-04T21:06:16.377+08:002010-04-04T21:06:16.377+08:00i agree with that competition tends to drive costs...i agree with that competition tends to drive costs lower of ebooksharishttp://bisesargodhaedu.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-19952318231074030352010-03-12T20:40:15.070+08:002010-03-12T20:40:15.070+08:00Hi Ivy, thanks for adding to the conversation. I l...Hi Ivy, thanks for adding to the conversation. I like your point about how a mix of e-versions and print of the same title can help resolve some problems of "Best Sellers" being popular for a while, and then becoming a physical liability. And the e-version is likely to be cheaper than print, so more e-copies can be licensed for that period. So that may save money for the library (by not buying the more expensive print copies) and save shelf-space.<br /><br />Will eBooks licensing costs be lowered? I think that will happen only when more eBook vendors (whose customers are libraries) come on board. Competition tends to drive costs lower. I can't say I'm that optimistic, but I sincerely hope you're right and I'm wrong :)Ivan Chewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02727226573817276108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-70665957853887312552010-03-11T15:14:12.050+08:002010-03-11T15:14:12.050+08:00Hi Ivan
This is interesting.
Just some thoughts ...Hi Ivan<br /><br />This is interesting.<br /><br />Just some thoughts on my end. <br /><br />1) I know of readers who use eBooks without the eBook readers, they just read on their PCs, so it is not necessarily true that users have to buy their own readers or libraries have to provide.<br /><br />2) I would add that one limitation of eBook collection is that it is not selected/determined by our own librarians, hence, this collection is likely duplicated at every other countries' libraries as long as they subscribe to the same package, therefore ignoring the unique reading needs of the community of that geographic region. <br /><br />3) For economies of scale, it would be wonderful if unlimited copies or at least many more copies of the highly reserved pBook titles in libraries can be made available for users for a certain time period. This could be a collaboration between library and vendor to promote a series of such titles and negotiated with terms favourable for libraries. I remember in the past, we used to buy multiple copies of a popular title (e.g Da Vinci Code) but after the popularity faded (maybe 1 year?), we ended up with so many copies on the shelf and we have to weed them out. To me, that's a waste that can be made better if fad titles can be complemented by eBooks.<br /><br />The way I see it, cost of eBooks will go down over time in the long run.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10701774287585429812noreply@blogger.com