Yet another loss for libraries

[elf]

Notice to publishers: curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal points out that Penguin has yanked its participation from Overdrive library services. :(

Apparently, Penguin is unhappy that Overdrive was turning the library requests over to Amazon, which is outside of the scope of the contracts. Why Penguin terminated its contract with OverDrive at TeleRead goes into more details.

A proposed solution: Libraries should band together, make a nonprofit, and take over OverDrive:

Why not sell OverDrive to our public libraries, then, if they can find the financing? Or maybe to a nonprofit run on their behalf, with librarians and educators setting the direction and with capable, truly involved business people advising them? Such a transaction would allow OverDrive founder and CEO Steve Potash to leave a memorable legacy to the American people while still reaping financial rewards. In one leap we could be truly on our way toward a well-stocked national digital library system for all Americans.

Comments

[jumpuphigh]

I'm so tired of this.

Dear Publishers: Keeping ebooks out of libraries does not, in fact, cause me to then buy your books. It just means that I find other books to read and other authors to recommend to my friends. I have a virtual stack of books to be read right now and add to that stack every week. I'm in no danger of running out of reading material. So, please, keep your books to yourself. I'll be over here reading something else.

[stormcloude]

I really hate that these hidebound monolithic corporations are using Joe Public as pawns in their power games. Makes me want to give all of them the boot.