On the one hand we have libraries and readers reaching out to embrace digital reading:
On the other hand we have the mega-corporate-legal-governmental tussle over pricing etc:
Interesting times. The first article in the NYTimes includes these bits of info:
Libraries are permitted to lend each digital book only one at a time**, under licensing agreements, which is a prime reason for the long waiting lists on highly popular e-books.
The relative ease with which digitized books can be borrowed has left many publishers fearful of declining sales and the potential for piracy. Macmillan and Hachette, as well as Simon & Schuster, refuse to sell e-books to libraries.
Last year, the Penguin Book Group said it would no longer make new e-books available, and HarperCollins set new restrictions, saying its e-books may be checked out from libraries only 26 times, after which they expire.
While the publishers may be wary, consumers have taken to e-readers and tablets with astonishing enthusiasm.
Three years ago, 2 percent of American adults owned an e-reader, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, and only a few had a tablet. By January, in the latest Pew survey, 28 percent of adults said they owned an e-reader or a tablet, or both.
** emphasis mine: note that this smacks strongly of the traditional library idea of one paper copy, one loan. Larger libraries might have a few paper copies of very popular books but not always. Looking at the listings for epub books available through our local consortium, there are often multiple digital copies available (and still being waited for) no doubt those crafty librarians taking advantage of slightly lower pricing to purchase additional copies for loan.
My own question continues to be why the cost of digital books is often so close to that of the paper version. I’d like to switch but part of me thinks it could be a little cheaper and still be fair to author, publisher and me. No middle man needed after all. Well, if the publishers would think more outside the warehouse box.
The cost of printing a book is minimal compared to the cost of developing the creative content – acquiring the work, writing and editing etc. Or so I’ve been told. I think the publishers are trying to make a bit of extra money on us, but probably not as much as we think.
I can imagine that the costs of pre-release are about the same. The risk involved in printing is less though and there isn’t the cost of reprinting etc. I just think there’s some sweet spot of ebook pricing I haven’t found yet. if the cost is too close to the price of the paper book I might as well get the paper version so I can share it with family etc. (not to mention read when the power is out LOL)