This Explains The Situation Of E-books In Libraries Much Better Than I Did.  It’s Incredibly Frustrating

This explains the situation of e-books in libraries much better than I did.  It’s incredibly frustrating for librarians, most of whom just want to connect people with books!

It’s been an increasing source of frustration for many library users: waiting weeks, sometimes months to get to the top of the waiting list for a popular eBook or e-Audiobook.

Why does it take so long? After all, it’s not a physical object, it’s a digital file that lives in the “cloud”, why can’t multiple people access it simultaneously instead of only one at a time? Barring that, why doesn’t the library just buy more copies so that the waiting list is shorter? Getting people access to books and information is what libraries are all about, but the struggle for acquiring lendable e-content is very real, and it’s getting harder all the time. Why? What’s the big hairy deal? For that answer, you have to look to the “Big 5” Publishers, who are responsible for close to 80% of trade book sales. 

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Publishers have been extremely wary about allowing library users virtual access to their books. After all, digital copies of books never wear out or have to be replaced, and are more vulnerable to unauthorized copying (“pirating”). Publshers were afraid if they allowed libraries access to their books digitally, they would be losing money. Individual publishers came up with their own sets of rules for libraries to access their e-content, and they have been tweaked many times since 2006.

In addition, the prices libraries must pay for ebooks and e-audiobooks is very high. Libraries must pay up to 4X the retail price for digital versions of books (which only one user can have access to at a time).  Meeting the library patron’s needs for downloadable content is a very expensive enterprise, indeed! Take a look at this comparison of the prices for various versions of the same book:

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It becomes easy to see that acquiring ebooks for public use is a very expensive endeavor…

Read more on The Cheshire Library Blog.

More Posts from Bibliofran and Others

2 years ago

Your flat tire is more likely to happen during difficult conditions, when it’s harder to see the road and any hazards.  If you can, keep an old blanket or sleeping bag in your vehicle so you have something to kneel or sit on when you’re changing the tire.


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7 years ago

Everyone, regardless of gender, deserves bodily autonomy.  You should not have to hug your uncle or kiss your grandmother or have your cheek pinched by your mom’s best friend or even sit on Santa’s lap if it upsets you.  It’s important for people to learn that they have the right to say, “No,” and have it accepted -- even if the person is a family member, friend, or respected person.  It is also ok for someone to want that contact sometimes but not other times, whether they need to take a little while getting comfortable with people they don’t see often or are comfortable giving a hug now but not later.

Respect other people’s limits and insist that they respect yours.

bibliofran - The Dragon's Hoard

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7 years ago

Reblogging for all my friends with more prescriptions than I have!

A Friend Of Mine Posted This. Reblog To Save A Life!

A friend of mine posted this. Reblog to save a life!


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8 years ago

I tend to be very quiet about my personal life (because it’s, well, personal).  However, it’s hard to resist Pride Month.  I identify as queer for short-form labeling and as grey asexual, autochorissexual, panromantic, and polyamorous for longer labeling.  Mostly, though, I identify as “labels are for people you don’t know well.”  I am myself -- that is what matters.

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Hey. It’s Pride Month!

Over the next 30 days, we are actively encouraging you to share your LGBTQ+ pride with all of Tumblr. You deserve to be proud of who you are 365 days a year, but these next 30 days, we’re going all out. There’s no wrong way to do it. Upload an illustration. Write a poem. Make a GIF. Take a selfie and slap a Pride sticker on it. Maybe send a sticker to a friend. These precious babies are in your app right now:

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Do one thing, do 100 things—whatever feels right. Just tag it with #TumblrPride so other people can find it. And, hey, if you can’t do any of these things, know that we still support you. You have every reason to feel proud this month, even if you aren’t ready to show it. <3

We’ll also be signal boosting other influential LGBTQ+ voices all month long. We’ve secured some really amazing people for Answer Time and Issue Time:

6/23—Gavin Grimm, 17 year old activist fighting for the equality of transgender students, held on Action (@action).

6/29—Becca McCharen, queer fashion designer and founder of fashion label Chromat (@chromat).

6/30—Trans Rights & Community, focusing on urgent issues that affect trans people, like violence, access to health care, and unemployment, held on Action (@action).

Have a safe and beautiful Pride Month, Tumblr.


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7 years ago

Yes to all of the above!

Reblog if you support people on the ace spectrum, you are on the ace spectrum, and/or you see them as a part of the LGBTQ+ community


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7 years ago

I can’t even draw straight lines with a ruler.

I am not a straight people.

Reblog if you are also not a straight people.


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6 years ago

If you’re in Wisconsin, go to https://myvote.wi.gov/ to find out if you’re registered, make sure you know where to vote, and see the ballot in advance so you can decide who/what you’re voting for before you go to the polls.  Go to https://www.bringitwisconsin.com/ for information about the required ID to vote. Whether you approve of the requirement or not, make sure you have what you need to vote!

You can also request an absentee ballot if you don’t know whether you will have time or spoons to vote on November 6.  “Under Wisconsin law, voters do not need a reason or excuse, such as being out of town on Election Day, to vote absentee.  Any voter who prefers to vote by absentee ballot may request one.” (https://elections.wi.gov/voters/absentee)  Even if Tuesdays are your day off and you want to spend them at home in your pajamas, you can get an absentee ballot and vote!

REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,
REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,
REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,
REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,
REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,
REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,
REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,
REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,
REPOST @TinySnekComics - You Know What’s Cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! If You Retweet Anything Today,

REPOST @TinySnekComics - you know what’s cool?  VOTING THIS NOVEMBER!!! if you retweet anything today, make it is!!  


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7 years ago

Woo-hoo!

A Pride Month Comic About Quietly Being Proud To Be Queer 

A Pride Month comic about quietly being proud to be queer 

7 years ago

Seriously.  Science is not like an illusion in D&D.  It does not go away if you disbelieve in it hard enough.

I Love This Sign.

I love this sign.


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bibliofran - The Dragon's Hoard
The Dragon's Hoard

Random stuff I have collected. All opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer.  (Icon by Freepik: www.freepik.com)

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