Tag: ebooks

• When Borrowing Isn’t Free – PW

  Posted at 8:00 pm by Laura, on December 26, 2011

  When Borrowing Isn’t Free – Publisher’s Weekly – Peter Brantley

  Wheeler’s is a private company developing an e-book platform that enables libraries to charge for e-book lending. And, another critical feature, it also offers support for the outright purchase of e-book titles from book distributors, versus licensing. In addition to clarifying the legal status of e-books in a library collection, “purchasing” the e-book also permits libraries to be more flexible with their funding, in comparison to paying recurring license fees. Further, the ability to charge patrons for e-book rentals generates friction in lending, and helps to compensate libraries for the costs of ebook purchasing.

  Could an experiment in New Zealand help US libraries and publishers come together on ebooks?

  Posted in library, Link, publishing | 0 Comments | Tagged ebooks, library, magazine, news, publishing

• The great ebook price swindle – The Guardian

  Posted at 1:15 pm by Laura, on December 23, 2011

  The great ebook price swindle – The Guardian – Dan Gillmor

  Publishers have two major distribution methods. One is traditional wholesaling: sell the book to a middleman, who typically adds a mark-up to customers, but sometimes discounts a book below cost as a “loss leader” to attract more business for items that aren’t discounted in this way.

  The other model is called the “agency” system. In this case, publishers set the price and the bookstore merely handles the sale to the ultimate customer, for a set fee or percentage of the transaction.

  The “big six” US publishers all sell their physical books via the wholesale model. After years of wholesaling digital editions as well, they moved to the agency model for ebooks, with Random House becoming the final publisher to switch early last year.

  …An ebook priced like a physical book is a terrible deal for the customer. Among other drawbacks, you can’t resell – or even give away – an ebook in most cases. You don’t really own an ebook; you’re just renting it, even if the company you rent from says you can keep it, because that depends on the life span of the seller.

  Read on to see why “publishers are facing an uncertain time in the digital world – but increasing the prices of their ebooks is a retrograde step.”

  Posted in books, Link, publishing | 1 Comment | Tagged books, ebooks, news, publishing

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

• Search the Blog

  Search for:

• Currently Reading

  

• Book Review Rating Key

  ★★★ — It’s good
  ★★★★ — It’s great
  ★★★★★ — OMG LOVE!!!

• Recent Posts

  • Deal Announcement: Amber Chen, YA Fantasy
  • Deal Announcement: Chloe Gong, YA Dystopian
  • MSWL for 2025
  • Favorite Reads of 2024
  • Deal Announcement: Crystal Seitz, YA Fantasy