I would be curious to hear what people think about these issues. How should libraries proceed in light of publishers limiting e-book availability to libraries? Should public libraries refuse to purchase from publishers that limit content? If so, should that be limited to their e-content or their print titles as well? Or, should libraries purchase whatever is available to meet the demands of our customers? These are definitely interesting and fluid times as libraries and publishers work through these issues. Please feel free to comment on this and discuss this issue.
Mike VC
1 comment:
This, of course, is such a complex issue that it's hard to come up with a solution that's going to be satisfactory to everyone.
Piracy and revenue loss are legitimate concerns, but so are the draconian restrictions publishers are placing on libraries.
Then we have patrons who want things their way and immediately, which I think our culture as a whole is too comfortable making money off that urge to sit them back and say, "Waiting a few weeks (if that) is a small price to pay if you want to read a bestseller for free."
We'll need to compromise on all sides in the long run, but as our politics show, Americans don't seem to grasp that concept very well. Just my $.02.
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