If you haven't been keeping track of what's big in libraryland this week, I am right there with you. It wasn't until today that I found out about the changes coming to Overdrive in the coming months regarding ebook uses and the power of the publisher to exact dirty capitalist revenge on libraries.The situation: HarperCollins has decided it is going to renegotiate the terms of its agreement with all ebook lenders (Overdrive and others) so that after so many checkout by patrons, an ebook may no longer be lent out. It will have to be repurchased. Essentially, libraries won't be in control of the conten they purchase.
[Insert angry tirade of your choice]
Now, while this is something is happening in the upcoming, I dont' think anyone can really be sure if it will last. With the ebook market getting bigger every day, it might be smart for some publishers to keep the old agreement, and thus get some business from libraries and econtent lenders.
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HarperCollins also takes issue with the lending practices of libraries subscribed to Overdrive. Like who we issue library cards to and how much we allow them to borrow.
ReplyDeleteAlso HarperCollins is owned by News Corp (Rupert Murdoch) which also owns Fox and therefore Fox News. Perhaps this explains something.
Check out this article on the issue. I thought it made the issue easy to understand.
http://librarianbyday.net/2011/02/25/publishing-industry-forces-overdrive-and-other-library-ebook-vendors-to-take-a-giant-step-back/