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Ebooks are a very difficult service for public libraries.
By 2018-19, when the rise of eBooks was well past its peak, in England, libraries loaned 3.6m eBooks.
In the same year they loaned 149.6m printed books. Therefore eBooks were just 2.3% of total book lending
By 2018-19, when the rise of eBooks was well past its peak, in England, libraries loaned 3.6m eBooks.
In the same year they loaned 149.6m printed books. Therefore eBooks were just 2.3% of total book lending
People say 'Libraries loaned an extra 3m eBooks during lockdown'. Fine - but these figures show what a tiny part of the normal function of libraries eBooks are- even when people are home reading.
You wouldn't claim that libraries are worth paying for because they offer eBooks.
You wouldn't claim that libraries are worth paying for because they offer eBooks.
There are several problems and they are almost insolvable
1. Unlike Print Books, eBooks are available on limited time licenses. You can't build up a collection, you have to keep replacing it
2. eBook licenses for lending are much much more expensive than print books
1. Unlike Print Books, eBooks are available on limited time licenses. You can't build up a collection, you have to keep replacing it
2. eBook licenses for lending are much much more expensive than print books
3. In order to prevent copies of eBooks being circulated for free, they have a software that prevents that (called DRM). Using the DRM software is also extremely expensive
4. So in America the cost per loan for eBooks is still 3 times greater than that for printed books
4. So in America the cost per loan for eBooks is still 3 times greater than that for printed books
5. Then there is the problem of devices for reading. Not everyone is comfortable using an eBook reader -and they are expensive, which runs against the grain for a public library
6. We have learned that children don't particularly use eBooks-and children are essential to libraries
6. We have learned that children don't particularly use eBooks-and children are essential to libraries
7. In order to build a collection of eBooks a library has to spend a lot of money over and above that which they spend on printed books. One doesn't replace the other.
8. And, sadly, our libraries fund for books is now so small that they don't even buy nearly enough print books.
8. And, sadly, our libraries fund for books is now so small that they don't even buy nearly enough print books.
9. Where we have always allowed individual councils to buy whichever print books they need, for eBooks that is an incredibly inefficient way of dealing with the publishers. There needs to be some kind of central arrangement the format of which does not exist.
The consequence of all this is that the service not good and it is miles and miles from being remotely satisfactory
And no one seems to be addressing any of the problems - so they don't stand a chance of being solved.
And no one seems to be addressing any of the problems - so they don't stand a chance of being solved.
When we see articles in the press @guardian etc, telling us how wonderful the eBook service in public libraries is, sadly these are promotion and propaganda on the part of either the Library Sector, or the purveyors of eBooks - both of whom indulge.
But it is not the truth
But it is not the truth
Then librarians say 'Why do publishers make it so difficult? isn't that unfair?'
The answer is that publishers prefer to sell the eBooks rather than lend them for free - and they don't see a commitment from libraries (in money) that makes it worth their while to change.
The answer is that publishers prefer to sell the eBooks rather than lend them for free - and they don't see a commitment from libraries (in money) that makes it worth their while to change.
So doubtless, and even more sadly, the economic pressure on councils means that over the next 2 years many many libraries will close
And the spinners will say 'Ah, but we have eBooks for everyone'
And that will be untruthful nonsense as it always has been.
And the spinners will say 'Ah, but we have eBooks for everyone'
And that will be untruthful nonsense as it always has been.
