[Michlib-l] Wired Article: Publishers, Libraries and eBooks

[Jim Flury]

All, 

There is nothing in this article you don't already know, really but it is an interesting read just the same. 

Mirroring what is reported in the article, the OverDrive group that is administered by TLN has seen a ytd increase of 23.72% in its number of checkouts vs. last year. This group is on course to surpass 1,000,000 checkouts for the first time in its 12 year history. About 75% of TLN member libraries now subscribe to Hoopla. Kanopy has made huge strides during the past six months, in terms of expanding its subscriber base. RBdigital is on the way out, although its influence will live on in the form of its (albeit reduced) Unlimited Audiobooks platform and (hopefully to be continued) Unlimited Magazines, with OverDrive. Etc. 

With the vast increase in demand for these digital resources likely to continue in libraries in the future, one hopes that these longstanding issues (libraries paying a premium price for digital content vs. what consumers pay; publisher arguments that library sales reduce consumer sales, etc.) can somehow be resolved in a way that benefits all parties involved. 

[ https://www.wired.com/story/publishers-worry-ebooks-libraries-virtual-shelves/ | https://www.wired.com/story/publishers-worry-ebooks-libraries-virtual-shelves/ ] 

Jim 

Jim Flury 
Technical Services Manager 
The Library Network 
41365 Vincenti Court 
Novi, MI 48375 
248-536-3100, ext 133 
Fax 248-536-3098 
jflury at tln.lib.mi.us 

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