OverDrive, Publishers, and eBooks. Oh my!

Due to an increase in e-reader ownership, more and more libraries are providing patrons with access to e-books, with the help of e-book providers like Overdrive.  To patrons, these e-book providers are a great service which their libraries provide them.  Which e-reader owner doesn’t want access to hundreds of popular titles, available to be borrowed for free from their public library?  If I had an e-reader, I know I would definitely take advantage of this resource.  In order for libraries to keep up with new technology and thus the needs of their tech savvy patrons, libraries know that it’s important to provide these services.  There are many reasons why these types of services are great for patrons and libraries, but many librarians feel that patronizing e-book providers, like Overdrive, is more problematic than it is beneficial, at least from a library stand-point. 

The Kansas State Library, which signed its first contract with OverDrive in December 2005, had to renegotiate with the vendor this year, as their contract would soon be up.  The new contract they received from Overdrive however, was not one that they were expecting, or could even afford.  As it turned out, OverDrive was increasing their price by 700% over their last contract.  In addition to the extraordinary increase in price, there was also a change in how the eBooks would be provided to them.  With their old contract, eBooks were considered purchased content, but in the new contract, it was obvious that the library would no longer be owning the eBooks, they were now only provided license to lend them to library users for as long as the contract was valid.  And so, the Kansas State Library chose to not renew their agreement with OverDrive and they have yet to find a new provider.  Kansas State Librarian, Jo Budler, feels that it really isn’t OverDrive’s fault though, she says:  “OverDrive is really caught in a squeeze as a middleman – all of these eBook vendors are – with publishers on one side and libraries and their patrons on the other.”[1] 

One of the main reasons why OverDrive had to change their contracts with their customers is because of publishers changing the way in which libraries can lend out their books, now that eBooks are a huge part of a library’s catalogue.  HarperCollins for instance, now limits libraries to lending out each of their titles only 26 times before the library has to re-pay for additional lending.  Since providers, like OverDrive are caught in the middle, Budler says “we need to collaborate as partners – libraries and publishers.  Let’s all gain from this.”

For those of you wondering why libraries would even try to work with eBook providers right now considering this transitional period seems to be a costly hassle, I will provide you with some positive information about eBooks in libraries, as it really isn’t ALL bad.  In October, Overdrive released their third quarter results, which include numbers from the 15,000 libraries that utilize the OverDrive network.  The results showed that the number of eBooks checked out nearly tripled in number for the third quarter, in comparison to all of 2010.  Additionally, there were more than 2 million new users, using not only e-readers, but mobile devices as well.  Since users have to have a library card and check-out these eBooks from their local libraries, this can only mean one thing:  E-Readers and eBooks are actually bringing people to their local libraries, as opposed to keeping them away, which is what many people thought would happen.   Libraries should be able to rejoice knowing that technology won’t be making them obsolete, but in the mean time, they have those pesky contracts (and those greedy publishers) to worry about.

                Sources:

1. “Kansas Leading the Fight for Fair Ebook Access in Libraries,” Nancy K. Herther.  http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Kansas-Leading-the-Fight-for-Fair-Ebook-Access-in-Libraries-78302.asp
2.  “eBook growth in public libraries powered by OverDrive results in record checkouts and new Users,” OverDrive Press Release [October 12, 2011].  http://www.librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?

E-Readers at the Romeo District Library

We’ve already discussed e-readers in an academic setting in a previous post and there are many articles on the web that discuss e-readers in public libraries.  I thought it would be interesting though, to find out more about how e-readers are being used in our own local public libraries.  As a result, I made a visit to my local library, the Graubner Branch Library, part of the Romeo District Library in Romeo, Michigan. 

At the library, I spoke with Heather VanFleet, one of the Adult Services Librarians.  She informed me that the Romeo District Library actually has five e-readers that patrons can check out.  She said the only way that Romeo was able to provide the Kindle’s to patrons, was because the Lion’s Club of Romeo donated them. 

I asked her what having e-readers available meant for the library and for the librarians that worked there.  She told me that the library staff is split on how they feel about e-readers, which really didn’t surprise me.  Some of the staff have e-readers and love them and others really don’t like them, but they are still happy that they can offer that service to patrons who do like them.  She also told me that although they are very grateful that they were given Kindles, it also creates some problems.  I wasn’t aware of this before, but apparently Kindles are only compatible with e-books purchased from Amazon.  The e-books available through the Romeo District Library are actually available through Overdrive and the Suburban Library Cooperative.  Not all of the e-books available there are from Amazon and so if a patron checks out a Kindle, they won’t have access to all of the e-books. 

The Lending Agreement Form

Additionally, the Kindles create a little more work and worry for the librarians.  Each patron who wants to check out a kindle, must fill out a Kindle Lending Agreement Form.  The form was actually modeled off of the one used at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library for their e-reader lending.  Additionally, the librarian must fill out a checklist.  Not only do they have to verify that the patron qualifies to borrow an e-reader, but the librarian also has to make sure that the device is still working, that all of the parts are still present, and that the titles are loaded on the Kindle.  Because of e-readers, each librarian who helps a patron check one out must know how to use the e-reader, so that requires additional training for each staff member.

Another issue with e-readers at the Romeo District Library is that because of their value and the limited number of e-readers available, not every patron will be qualified to use the Kindle.  The library requires that each user be at least 18 years old and they must be a resident of either the village of Romeo or two of the surrounding townships.  Additionally, the patron is required to pay a $20.00 refundable deposit.  Not everyone will be able to afford to pay this deposit and so I think it really limits which patrons will be able to use the e-readers.  If the e-reader is damaged or lost, there are additional fees that the patron will be responsible for as well, so there’s a possibility that some people may not want to take that risk of checking one out.  Lastly, their Kindles are only available for a week at a time because of their high demand and for some, that may not be enough time to finish an e-book.

I am in no way saying that I think e-readers in public libraries are a bad idea, nor am I implying that I think the Romeo District Library is doing a poor job at providing e-readers and managing their lending program.  The real problems in providing e-readers in public libraries comes from the fact that there are limits to which e-books are used on which e-readers because of the many different brands and companies that sell them.   Another problem is that because of the high cost of e-readers, libraries have to take many precautions with their e-readers, which can lead to patrons having to shell out quite a bit of money to use one if some sort of accident happens with it.

I actually think having e-readers in a public library could be a great idea, especially for those patrons who would love to be able to use an e-reader and have access to the many e-books available.  I just think that having e-readers in public libraries won’t be a practical thing to offer until the costs go down, so all patrons can have access, and the access to e-books, based on e-reader brand, improves.

Sources and important links listed below:

http://www.libcoop.net/romeo/

http://slc.lib.overdrive.com/A732D534-A90C-46DA-A12D-1BED3D28B52A/10/496/en/Default.htm