Few getting e books from library / new agreement with penguin

[BearLion]

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TnTexas wrote:

Especially since those licenses are only good for a certain number of checkouts, then they have to be replaced. Ebooks really aren't good deals for most libraries.

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That's only the case for HarperCollins and their 26 check out per license limit. All other books have perpetual licenses at this time, except for a) the Harry Potter books (5 year term, renewable) and the future purchased Penguin books (1 year term, renewable).

[TnTexas]

Ah, I must have just been hearing about the HarperCollins books then. I thought all publishers put a limit on their ebook licenses - and 26 in a large system is a ridiculously small number before having to renew.

[emmyk]

There's no lack of awareness or device-support at my library; there's just a disconnect between the number of potential users and the # of copies of each e-book.  I especially wanted to check out a particular e-book last Fall and, given the number on the wait-list (which is published in the Overdrive interface) and the number of copies, assuming everyone stuck on the list and kept the book for the allowed time (which is a week *shorter* than for paper library books), I would have finally gotten it the second week of June.  Then I would have had to read it in 2 weeks or I would have lost it again (no renewals because of the wait-lists).  I did wait for one book (for 6 weeks) but for several others I ended up just buying it (as the publishers want me to do) or checking out the readily-available paper version of the book at the library, something I haven't done for years.  I always check for the e-book first at the library (and have been doing so since they rolled out Overdrive last Fall), but I have *never*, not even once, found a book to be available (i.e.; no wait-lsit)...and, in general, I don't read best-sellers.  I pretty much did a spit-take when my local news ran this story this week (about people not checking out e-books) and the cheery news reader (you know the type) encouraged people to "check it out, folks!".

[moogs]

It isn't a whole lot different than it is with regular books, there are only so many copies and you need to get in line. If it is a popular book or one that has a movie based off of it, it's going to be a long line. If i want it when I want it, im going to have to buy....and I'm ok with that.

[BearMountainBo…]

I've checked out one--mostly the books I want simply aren't available.  Since I am an author, I get the need to make some money and there HAS to be a better compromise than simply not having the books!!!  But so far, especially since January, the list of books ... is pretty limited.   Any new releases are simply not there.

But I do still use my library.  I just check out print copies.  I don't mind if I have use USB to get the book to my device; it's pretty easy and it would be preferable to print.  I'd even pay a dollar a book to have it on my e-reader!  Just the convenience is worth it to me!!!