“Big 5” trade book publisher Macmillan brings into force today a controversial new set of terms for e-book lending of its titles by public libraries.
Catching up with PW's Andrew Albanese
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“Big 5” trade book publisher Macmillan brings into force today a controversial new set of terms for e-book lending of its titles by public libraries.
As Publishers Weekly reported in July, “library systems” are allowed to purchase a single “perpetual access” e-book during the first eight weeks of publication for each new Macmillan release, at half price ($30). Additional copies will then be available at full price (generally $60 for new releases) after the eight-week window has passed. E-book licenses will continue to be metered for two years or 52 lends, whichever comes first, on a one copy/one user model.
The ”embargo” has since sparked strong negative reaction from librarians, including by an ALA representative who told PW the plan would “violate the principle of equitable access to information that is at the core of libraries.”
In an open letter to librarians published this week, Macmillan CEO John Sargent was conciliatory, but his message remains unchanged: library e-books pose a problem. “We believe the very rapid increase in the reading of borrowed e-books decreases the perceived economic value of a book,” Sargent told librarians. “I know that you pay us for these e-books, but to the reader, they are free.”
“In this case, what John Sargent is fighting against is not a low price point, but a library lend. And I think that’s a very, very questionable battle,” observes Andrew Albanese, PW senior writer.
As Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally, the Macmillan e-book lending program leaves the publisher seemingly standing alone. “The other majors have all said they will not go down the path of windowing e-books in libraries,” he notes. “The public is also with the libraries. Many librarians are boycotting Macmillan e-books, and their patrons are saying, ‘good for you!’”
Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.
I have been an avid reader since forever. When I discovered ebooks, I fell in love with the convenience and portability of reading on my Tablet and having the ability to order a new title at any hour of the day or night and receive the download almost immediately. I am aware that libraries now provide ebooks to its patrons and I think this is an amazing service. although I have not used it as yet. I am offended by the boycott because it seeks to curtail reading opportunities to library patrons, some of whom may be unable to afford to purchase books. This strikes me as needlessly nasty ( John Sargent’s commening that he’s against the library program because , “to the reader, it’s free.”) and indicative of the type of disdain that many of the well-cushioned have towards those less fortunate.
As an author, I am interested in getting my works out to the general public so I have an uncomfortable level of concern for trends that could hurt new and lesser known authors.