Public libraries and vogue now that e-readers and e-books are so popular, and publishers are wary of the trend. To the dismay of many and the surprise of some, HarperCollins Publishers e-books expire after 26 rental - effectively giving them a one-year shelf life (assuming two weeks per rental x 26 = 52 weeks). So now cash-strapped public libraries have to pony on license on an annual basis, because the publisher was concerned that "selling e-books to libraries ever, when left unchanged, the emerging bafweek e-book ecosystem is undermined." In other words, think HarperCollins lending e-books cost the company can make money selling them. The publisher is the first library ebooks other deal of hard copies, and the policy change has caused some librarians to stop purchasing HarperCollins e-books. The new license system is a trend we will see if libraries are forced to stop the electronic lending party. [Thanks, Scott]
Publisher starts annual e-book licensing for libraries, attempts blood extraction from stone originally appeared bafweek on Engadget on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 23:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The New York Times | Email this | Comments
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