Perpetual access e-book licenses are making way to limited but less expensive “metered” models.
Catching up with PW's Andrew Albanese
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On Tuesday, Hachette Book Group became the third “Big Five” publisher to change terms for licensing e-books to libraries, reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.
“From July 1, 2019, Hachette will shift from perpetual access licenses – where libraries pay a higher price but retain access to the e-book forever – to a two-year metered model that provides lower prices on e-books licenses that expire after two years,” he explains.
Librarians have long complained that metered models are inefficient and difficult to manage, Albanese tells Beyond the Book’s Jeremy Brieske. Among those who reacted coolly to the news was Michael Blackwell, director of St. Mary’s County Library, Maryland.
“Blackwell told PW that this change will mean additional work for library acquisitions departments and an erosion of their buying power,” Albanese says.
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.
