SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

I just saw this artcile in the NY times.

Basically, publishers are afraid that ebooks through the library are going to eat into books sales.

Publishers are nervous that e-book borrowing in libraries will cannibalize e-book retail sales. They also lose out on revenue realized as libraries replace tattered print books or supplement hardcover editions with paperbacks, a common practice. Sales to libraries can account for 7 to 9 percent of a publisher’s overall revenue, two major publishers said.

As a result, some publishers (HarperCollins being one of them) are limiting a library's ebook license to a definitive number of check outs -- and after that the library has to repurchase the book. And surprisingly Simon & Schuster and Macmillan do not make their books available in ebooks to librariers at all!!! Which now I understand why I can't find certain books in ebook format at libraries.

I completely get that ebooks are changing the industry, there is the issue of piracy and DRM stripping, it is so darned easy to get ebooks through overdrive that I admit I am buying less (but my less probably puts me above average in the book buying department!), I just really feel like the publishers, though - are not thinking out of the box on this. to make a library re-purchase a book, I can see many libraries wouldn't be able to afford that and either just not carry that book anymore, or just not buy from that publisher.

What do you all think?

I think that I'm not happy with publishers at the moment. 'Hunt the Moon' is not being released until August in the UK because of some change (we're assuming it's to do with publishers but not certain). So now the wait is longer and I'm pretty mad tbh.
And then the library thing is ridiculous. I hope publishers are afraid. Maybe they can sort their lives out now.

Ack how frustrating! I don't think I read that series, but I am off to check which series it belongs to.

While publishers dilly around with DRM and limiting rights -- people are stripping the DRM and then getting the books for free. I really think if there were less limitations in terms of sharing, there would be less piracy. For example, I love the Amazon kindle account sharing -- I share with quite a few friends and have gotten quite a few books that way.

Oh no -- I love Cassie Palmer, I just realized Hunt the Moon is #5. :( So it is being released in the US but not the UK? Don't they understand copies will get to the UK either by friends selling and middle men or pirated ebooks? Stupid decision, they will be missing out on a key time to sell the book -- the day of release in the US.

I know! It's stupid and pointless! Of course there's going to more piracy etc, and who's going to suffer that? Karen Chance, who I'm sure had nothing to do with the date change. Amazon emailed me basically saying "hey why not re-order a book that you now have to wait longer for and pay twice as much!" No.

>:(

And pay twice as much?!! Yes, the author is the one whose sales appear lower and she suffers for it. :(

Yup. I'm hoping this is all just one big horrible mistake...

ETA: They did it with Shadowfever as well. Still not out in PB, not until August. I'm guessing it's out in the US :(

Have you read the rules when you borrow ebooks? They are beyond ridiculous. No reading the book out loud.

You mean to say, if I read a sentence out loud to my husband, I've broken the law? This is ridiculous.

Josie wrote: "Yup. I'm hoping this is all just one big horrible mistake...

ETA: They did it with Shadowfever as well. Still not out in PB, not until August. I'm guessing it's out in the US :("

Nope, only hardcover here, too. Usually with hers (and probably all hardcover releases), the paperback didn't release until a month or so before the next hardcover release in the series. Since the series is done, they're taking pity on us poor readers and releasing the paperback 7 months after the hardcover.

I just checked it out and I was right. For the 1st three Fever books, the paperback came out 10 months after the hardcover, and for Dreamfever, it was 14 months. So 7 months is a publisher kindness. Lol.

AH wrote: "Have you read the rules when you borrow ebooks? They are beyond ridiculous. No reading the book out loud.

You mean to say, if I read a sentence out loud to my husband, I've broken the law? This i..."

What about Fragment Friday? Oh no! Those were made to increase interest in a book. I don't see how that hurts them... It HELPS them. It isn't like you are reading the whole book. Just the prologue or first chapter or even just a few pages (which they put up as a free sample on Kindle or online anyway)

i hate that i can't return the book early! that just seems so silly to me.

Nici wrote: "i hate that i can't return the book early! that just seems so silly to me."

Me too! I feel bad because someone else is waiting for it and I am done with it and it is just sitting there on my computer or ereader. The same goes for a book I am waiting for. Not that I don't already have too many to read...

Right and u can only have so many out at a time,which I understand but combined with not being able to return the ones I am done with hassled forme to not be able to get holds.

Nici wrote: "Right and u can only have so many out at a time,which I understand but combined with not being able to return the ones I am done with hassled forme to not be able to get holds."

I totally get that. I am trying to slow down requesting until some of my checked out items expire. NetGalley is also addictive in this way...

What is net galley

I wish they would come up with an ebook rental site. I would probably get an ereader if I could just rent ebooks. But I'm not a rereader and I don't travel much. So an ereader isn't worth it to me for the occassional book I download from the library.

The logistics of that would probably be hard.

Nici wrote: "What is net galley"

NetGalley is a website that allows bloggers and reviewers to sign up and request free review copies of book that are going to be released soon (or recently released) All they ask is that is you complete the book that you review it on your blog, YouTube etc. I tend to do written reviews for my NetGalleys and do video reviews for books I really love. :) The review copies are digital and can be read on your computer through Adobe Digital Editions (a free program you download) or on an ereader device (I recommend the Sony Pocket for this) Most have a review/lending period of 60 days then they expire.

Mary wrote: "I wish they would come up with an ebook rental site. I would probably get an ereader if I could just rent ebooks. But I'm not a rereader and I don't travel much. So an ereader isn't worth it to ..."

It would have to work like the library loaning websites. They would have to have a certain number of copies of each book and charge a fee to borrow it. It is hard to see how much money they would make from the site. Have you checked out your library? You may be surprised how many titles they offer.

I agree with Awesomevegan. Lots and lots of books are available online at libraries. You can also join other libraries online like Regina suggested to me - I think it was the Philadelphia library had online memberships for $15.

It does make sense now why there are certain ebooks I can't find at the library. But regarding sales, it's not guaranteed that every person reading the ebook would have bought the book if it wasn't available. Plus, the more exposure the books get, the more popular they become, meaning more sales so wouldn't an ebook be a good thing?

I think an ebook rental site would be awesome. Like a netflix for ebooks, where you can check out a number of books at a time.

Awesomevegan (AKA JenReads) wrote: "Nici wrote: "What is net galley"

NetGalley is a website that allows bloggers and reviewers to sign up and request free review copies of book that are going to be released soon (or recently release..."

Nici, you don't have to have a blog to get a book. Head over to http://www.netgalley.com/, sign up and list your Goodreads' profile page as your website. Many of us, me included, have had our request for an ARC approved with no blog. :)

Yep, you don't need a blog. Just make sure, like Steph said, to post the link to your GR profile where it asks for your book review website.

Different publishers seem to have different requirements. I should have put that you could use Goodreads in my explanation but I have a blog and YouTube so I don't have any personal experience with using just Goodreads. I am glad that some of you have gotten ARCs by listing Goodreads. I have been approved for almost every book I have requested so I must be doing something right :)

Josie wrote: "I know! It's stupid and pointless! Of course there's going to more piracy etc, and who's going to suffer that? Karen Chance, who I'm sure had nothing to do with the date change. Amazon emailed me b..."

I had the exact same email but I ordered the Kindle edition. I didn't order the new paperback one either (there's no ebook) but BD is still selling the US edition coming out in June at the cheaper price:
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/...

Thanks Ames! I ordered that one today, so fingers crossed, it all works out :D

There aren't that many libraries in the UK lending ebooks. I don't have access to this service but if publishers are putting this kind of restriction on them then I probably never will. I can understand where the publisher is coming from but they need to find their profit elsewhere.

Why aren't publishers focusing on selling ebooks directly to the public? Some do but their prices are usually the same as in bookstores! If they're cutting out the middle man e.g. Amazon shouldn't they be a little bit cheaper?

I read this article this morning which mentioned Lost Book Sales - a place readers can go to complain if they've been unable to get hold of a digital edition of a book – or haven't been able to buy it as cheaply as they'd like. Sample remark:

"Too bad, so sad. You couldn't get your shit together to let me GIVE YOU MY MONEY. Since you don't want my money, I am going to pirate your work."

When I went to the actual site, on the first page was How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf. I've been waiting for an ebook to pop up for a while because I don't want the paperback but no dice. What can I do?
a. Wait some more
b. Just buy the paperback
c. Download a pirate copy

I have chosen A for now. I want to support the authors but I don't want to be forced to buy the paperback. Others in my position are obviously going to go for C.

Amy or "Ames" wrote: "If they're cutting out the middle man e.g. Amazon shouldn't they be a little bit cheaper?"

You'd definitely think so.

Nici wrote: "i hate that i can't return the book early! that just seems so silly to me."

You can return a book early -- you do it from Adobe Digital Editions, there is an option when you click on the arrow to the left of the book -- anyway, you do it from your computer not from the library, I do it all the time. :)

Steph wrote: "Amy or "Ames" wrote: "If they're cutting out the middle man e.g. Amazon shouldn't they be a little bit cheaper?"

You'd definitely think so."

They tried that and then had agency publishing forced on them (although I obviously wasn't privy to the contract negotiations!). But I agree completely, there is no justification for ebook pricing when we do not have the same rights to the ebooks. I have read repeatedly that ebooks are outstripping paper book sales and new release sales, and particularly in the romance genre (which I am guessing UF and PNR get shoved into) -- so publishers .... get a clue! There are actually two ebooks being released that I am not buying bc of the price (Lover Unleashed and Dead Reckoning) which I would buy if they were going to be sold under $10.

Yup the library is Philadelphia Library, it is an amazing option - -they have quite a few audio books too. Also, I always remind people to check out nearby university or big city libraries, there may be deals to allow non-students and non-residents to join.

Amy or "Ames" wrote: "There aren't that many libraries in the UK lending ebooks. I don't have access to this service but if publishers are putting this kind of restriction on them then I probably never will. I can under..."

I agree -- with your 3 options that the publisher is forcing readers into. You are a better reader/fan/person than most people!

I don't think restricting ebooks is the way to go. It just makes piracy, file sharing and downloading more attractive.
Libraries are inexpensive and legal ways for people to read books. Restricting ebooks at the library level is a bad idea.
I don't have any statistics but I'd bet the more books a person reads for free the more likely they are to use a part of their income buying books.

Irene I am guessing you are right.

I definitely agree with that, Irene. People who use libraries are readers, and readers buy books, period. They may not buy all the books they read, but I'd still be willing to bet active library patrons are also the biggest book buyers.

And I agree with Irene and Laura.

AH wrote: "And I agree with Irene and Laura."

Ditto. Looks like the publishers may have just diminished their own income by imposing this new policy.

True and sad!

Regina wrote: Yup the library is Philadelphia Library, it is an amazing option - -they have quite a few audio books too. Also, I always remind people to check out nearby university or big city libraries, there may be deals to allow non-students and non-residents to join. ..."

As I can't get English books (or much of a selection, anyway) at my local library, I checked with them to ask about overseas/non-local potential library patrons. This was their reply:

Thank you for your interest in securing a Free Library of Philadelphia library card. The library system is currently accepting applications from overseas residents. In order to obtain a card we ask that you fill out the following application http://www.freelibrary.org/registrati... and mail it to us along with a $35 payment in U.S. dollars. As an alternate to our overseas patrons who might have trouble sending a payment in U.S. dollars we are allowing you to send a clear scanned copy of the application to [email protected] If anything is unclear please type the information in the text of email as well. 5 to 10 business days after we have received your application we will send you a card number along with information about how to logon and pay via credit card the $35 yearly fee. We will allow you 2 business days to complete the payment before deleting the record. Once you have made the payment please email a confirmation to [email protected] so we can activate your card. You will not get a physical card due to mailing costs.

Guess who's gonna get a library card! This way, I can enjoy some of those books I know I'd like to read, but REALLY don't want to spend the money to buy!

Whoop Whoop! :D Yay, Judithe!

:D

My wallet will love me, but amazon and my delivery man might miss me...

LOL! I'm sure they will. ;)

Yay Judithe. It will be interesting to see if they will be able to loan you books that are not supposed to be loaned outside the US. I bet they can!

I never even thought of that (nor realized that was the case, though I do know there are some we can't buy...) hmm...wonder which ones are on that list?

Want to bet that you will be able to borrow the books? $35/yr is not bad for being able to borrow all sorts of books.

They must have cleared it with the publishers. I am wondering about future wait times and how many licenses they have bought to lend. Right now the wait time for the Phili Free library isn't bad. Many of the books we read have longer wait times, but I don't notice it bc I have so many books on my TBR. : ) I find it very worth it to be a member of this library!

Considering I spend more than that in a month, it makes me very happy! :D **super big grin**

Regina wrote: "Nici wrote: "i hate that i can't return the book early! that just seems so silly to me."

You can return a book early -- you do it from Adobe Digital Editions, there is an option when you click ..."

Oh my gosh thank you! I will have to try that! :)

It is a pretty cool function. When I check out audio books, I choose the 7 day option, b/c while the audio book disappears from the overdrive console, it doesn't dissapear off my iphone and I can stil listen to it long after the due date. But the books -- you are stuck, they won't open and disappear (unless you have the book open, haven't turned off your ereader and you are not connected to the internet), so for books I always choose the longest check out time period -- so it is nice to be able to return it and free up that spot at the library so I can get something else. ;)

Thanks for the tips, Regina. Nice to know. My library got the ebooks and audio books a few months ago. I haven't had the opportunity to try it because the books weren't what I was reading, but I will soon.

For anyone in California, the LA public library is free for all state residents - the caveat being you need to come in person to sign up. The selection isn't the most expansive, but they do get in the popular new releases - including . I don't know what the wait is like though. Next time I head up, I'll probably sign up for a card (I'm about an hour away).