Library eBook Lending Model Proposal
Martin Hensel, President of Texterity, Inc. invites your comments and suggestions on the following library ebook lending model proposal.
- Texterity provides participating libraries with MARC records for
adult trade front-list ebook titles
- MARC records include links to image of book cover, publisher's blurb and a URL to download the title in Palm or Pocket PC format.
- Library pays a set fee ($2.95) for each download until a certain threshold (perhaps based on population served or # of patrons) is reached, then the library is only charged $1 for each download thereafter.
- Downloaded ebook files contain a timed expiration.
- There is no limit on the number of patrons simultaneously downloading a single title.
The advantages of this system include the ability for a library to provide ebooks to its patrons and there is no limit on the number of patrons that could be enjoying a single title at any given time.
A few of the questions that this proposal raises include
- Will libraries agree to a cost per circulation billing when there is no ultimate cap on the amount paid? Or is the $1 per download justified when a library can provide an unlimited number of copies to its patrons?
- Will libraries balk at loading MARC records into its catalog for ebook titles not really "owned"?
- Is something physical (PDF of cover and blurb) needed on the shelves to represent the ebook or is discovery through the catalog sufficient?
- This model assumes that the ebook is never purchased-- only licensed. Thus there is no Right of First Sale. Are librarians comfortable with this?
Please let Martin
Hensel know what you think. This is an excellent opportunity to
help shape a library ebook service.