eBook Prices to Libraries - Recent News and Reflections

The Random House ebook price hike to libraries last week created a storm of commentary.  Here's a good round-up of the story by Bobbi Newman at Librarianbyday.net. The post is still being updated with new links. 

Now that the fireworks have died down a little, the library world is generating some good,reflective analyses of the ebook dilemma. Here are a couple that you shouldn't miss: 

   -   Random House's eBook Price Hikes are GOOD for Libraries IF ...   The big "IF" consists of a list of requirements for ebooks that libraries should insist on, in exchange for high prices. 

   -  $2 Billion for $1 Billion of Books: The Arithmetic of Library e-book Lending   Michael Porter has a good infographic showing the relative prices of print and digital books for consumers and libraries and remarks on the odd inefficiency of the digital product. 

NTLP is embarking on a project to make ebook content available to libraries at more reasonable licensing terms. Read our proposal, comment, and express your concerns or interest at the NTLP blog or website.  Look for more on this in coming weeks. 

eBook Pricing: Like that of Pop Audiobooks without Ownership of the Purchased Item

Wondering how much Random House pricing increased for Overdrive content, NTLP Digital Media Collection Development Coordinator Marci Chen made a duplicate cart of the big RH order she just placed for North Texas Libraries on the Go (NTLP-area Overdrive consortium). She found that a 200% increase was the norm, with the increase for some titles as high as 300% or more. We have no idea regarding what portion of each increase came from RH vs how much reflects Overdrive's markup. Our concern is the suddenness of the increase, the related challenge of budgeting for constant, unknown and completely unpredictable price increases, the total amount of the increase, and the impacts on library personnel and on the library's image within its community when we are unable to meet expectations.

eBook pricing is becoming something like that of pop audiobooks - without the result of library ownership of the purchased item. The average eBook price from our recent order is $39.77 per title. Most titles are in the $25-45 range butsome popular titles are $75-$135 . For our consortium, the Overdrive price of No Higher Honor - Condoleezza Rice - is $105, up from $35 after this latest round of price increases through Overdrive. To provide some context to that comparison: Amazon Kindle's current retail price for individual consumers to purchase the eBook is $15.99. As of the 3/01/12 holds report, North Texas Libraries on the Go is at 80% of the budget allotted for holds for March."

"I'm worried that, between the lack of content available and the new pricing structures, we won't be able to meet the demand for popular materials," says Marci. "The thing that frustrates me the most is that all of this is happening at a time when libraries are hit hard in the budget gut. I'm ready for new and innovative solutions for our patrons."

A couple of related items which have caught our attention today are from Digital Shift, from Agnostic, Maybe - the neverending reference interview of life and from Publishers Marketplace.

NTLP Proposal for Distributing EBook Content

NTLP proposes a new protocol for the distribution of writing, music, speech, and video in electronic form through libraries.
NTLP recognizes that publishers imbue the elements of our culture with a level of quality that would be otherwise unattainable -- quality that makes cultural preservation and democratization by libraries worth while. In this time of rapid evolution in how the elements of our culture -- our writing, music, speech, and video -- are distributed to the public, we do not wish either publishers or libraries to be left out of the equation. In this changing environment publishers and libraries alike must learn new ways to continue what we do best: create and preserve our culture.
To this end, NTLP proposes a new protocol for the distribution of writing, music, speech, and video in electronic form through libraries. In short, NTLP requests from publishers the right to distribute electronic content by selling and leasing it to libraries for use by the library users, with appropriate royalty payments to the publisher.
The proposed protocol is outlined in our Statement of Common Understanding for Library Use of Electronic Content and portrayed in our Example of How a Library Would Use Electronic Content. Both documents are open to public comment and will be revised responsively. Our intent in this proposal is to meet both the revenue needs of publishers and the content needs of libraries. Please identify any concerns with the details in the documents themselves and contact Paul Waak directly with any broad concerns.
Anyone with an interest in this project should please express it by March 5, 2012. NTLP will take what it has and move forward on March 31, 2012, so please contact Paul Waak before then if you would like to be part of the initial offering.

Ebook News and Guide to Publishers

There has been so much on the web recently about libraries and ebooks, I was thinking NTLP should provide a weekly summary. Michael Porter, who many of you saw at the TechNet 2011 conference, beat me to it. His blog at LibraryRenewal.org now has a series of posts proviiding a weekly wrap-up of web articles related to libraries and e-content. Last Friday's post has links to insightful articles on the complex relationship between libraries and publishers; the equally complex relationship between publishers and Amazon; and the world of ebooks, access, and libraries. Be sure to read the comments, where he encourages readers to post additional links to articles he might have missed.

Another good blog to watch for ebook news is thedigitalshift.com, from Library Journal and School Library Journal. Last week they published A Guide to Publishers in the Library Ebook Market, listing the current status of many of the top publishers relative to their ebook offerings for libraries.

Universal Access News

We've seen a flurry of universal access messages in the past few days and want to share them with you.

Amy Mason, writing for the National Federation for the Blind's Braille Monitor, has provided a very useful article entitled Mainstream Access to E-Books--What Works, What Doesn’t, and What Is Still Unclear.

According to a Feb. 3 article in The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell is working to implement a computer-based program to support students with hearing disabilities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in an effort to improve graduation rates of students with hearing disabilities. The first students will enter the program in fall 2013.

Toronto's OCAD U now offers a Master of Design in Inclusive Design.

Mandolin Gardens Park, Houston, UT Dallas Student Services Building, Richardson, and the Historic Downtown River Walk, San Antonio, have all won the 2011 Accessibility Awards sponsored by the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) and the Accessibility Professionals Association (APA). The awards recognize businesses and organizations which go significantly above and beyond the legal requirements of both physical and service accessibility for people with disabilities. The winners will be honored at a ceremony Friday, January 27, 2012, at 12:15pm at the Austin Marriott Hotel North, 2600 La Frontera Blvd, Round Rock, as part of the APA Annual Conference. The awards presentation after lunch is free and open to the public.

According to WorldBakers, UK shortbread manufacturer Paterson Arran Limited has introduced braille to its best-selling shortbread range as part of its ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of consumers.

Global Accessibility News is available free from The Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES).

It is time to tell the truth about eBooks

In case you haven’t heard the ruckus from the blogosphere, yet another major publisher has severed ties with Overdrive.  Last fall, after the Overdrive/Kindle launch, Penguin announced that it was not providing new eBook content for purchase, but would allow libraries to purchase additional copies of titles already licensed.  As of today, February 10, libraries can no longer purchase additional copies of Penguin eBooks to meet patron demand.

I wonder, though, how many library patrons (and for that matter, library staff) know that out of the Big Six publishers (HarperCollins, Hachette, Penguin, Macmillan, Random House, and Simon & Schuster), only two are willing to sell eBooks to libraries (at least via Overdrive, the predominant source of popular eContent for libraries).  HarperCollins will license copies for the now-infamous 26 checkouts, after which a library must repurchase the title for another 26 checkouts.  Random House has stated that they are committed to library lending, but will be raising prices on eContent for libraries in the near future.  The other four will not sell eContent to libraries at all.

What does this mean for your patrons?  It means that even if you subscribe to Overdrive or another vendor of popular eBooks,  it is likely that the vast majority of popular content--the same titles we purchase and lend in hard copy to our patrons--is most likely not available for us to purchase in electronic format.

What can we do?  Continue to advocate on behalf of our users, of course, but I also think it is time to tell the truth about the situation.  We are not here to bash eBook vendors or publishers, but our patrons have a right to know what is going on and may be willing to add their voices to the dialogue.  It’s time to tell the truth.

To see how some well-known librarians are addressing this issue in their libraries, check out these links:

Librarian in Black's blog shows the sign she put up in the library listing publishers that won't sell.  http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2012/02/ebooksign.html  

And Jessamyn West's blog has opinions about how we should talk to patrons. http://www.librarian.net/stax/3791/lets-be-honest-about-the-ebook-situation/

Jessamyn links to Bobbi Newman for talking points / scripts to use when telling patrons about the situation. http://librarianbyday.net/2012/02/09/how-to-talk-to-your-patrons-about-penguin-other-publishers-not-loaning-ebooks-to-libraries/

Additional Information Provided by the GED Unit at Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) no longer provides direct GED services such as locating testing centers, providing test scores, or mailing copies of GED certificates. TEA is no longer accepting telephone calls or written communication about GED from individual test takers, employers, institutions of higher education, or the general public. All direct customer service is now provided by the local GED testing centers.

To Locate a GED Testing Center

To find a local GED testing center near you, please consult the online testing center locator or call 1-800-626-9433 (1-800-62-MYGED) to find your local testing center.

For additional assistance, please use the following resources:

• To Learn About the GED For general information about the GED, please visit the American Council on Education’s GED Testing Service website.
• To Obtain, Verify, or Validate GED Certificates and Scores All test takers, employers/potential employers, and postsecondary institutions may print a PDF containing a GED certificate and accompanying test scores. To print a certificate, the user needs to have either the test taker’s date of birth and name, or date of birth and Social Security Number. A credit card or electronic transfer from a checking account is required to pay the $5.00 charge. If you encounter technical difficulties downloading the certificate, call the TexGov help desk at 1-800-399-2969.
• To Resolve Problems with Accessing Certificates and Scores To report and resolve problems, including problems with certificates and test scores, do NOT contact TEA – instead contact your local testing center.

source: GED Unit Texas Education Agency

Texas cities rank poorly in literacy ratings

North Texas cities ranked poorly in an annual study of literacy rates.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram cites an annual study of literacy resources done by Central Connecticut State University, which looks at key indicators of literacy. The study rates 75 cities, and only one Texas city (Austin) scored in the top third. Plano came in at 46, Dallas at 51, and Fort Worth at 54. Three other Texas cities were among the bottom 10.

TEA GED Press Release

News from Texas Education Agency's GED Unit:

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is pleased to announce the launch of its new automated system for ordering General Education Development (GED) certificates. GED test takers and certificate holders can now immediately download and print their official GED certificates - complete with test scores - by visiting http://www.texged.com. GED certificates can only be obtained through this website. Both the old style certificate and the new Certificate of High School Equivalency are to be recognized, however, TEA will only be issuing the new certificate for examinees.

Additionally, in order to increase the level of customer service provided to GED customers, the agency is implementing an improved, decentralized process. While TEA will continue to serve as the state administrator for GED, the local GED testing centers across the state will now be providing direct customer service, responding to, and supporting GED customers. Local GED testing centers will serve as the primary information resource for all GED inquiries.

To learn more about obtaining a GED, locating a local GED testing center, or any other GED-related information, and to order GED certificates online, go to http://www.texged.com. Please note that orders for GED certificates can only be placed online at this website.

For GED customers who do not have access to a computer, please direct them to call 1-800-62-MYGED (1-800-626-9433) to find their local GED testing center. Please note that TEA staff will no longer receive or respond to telephone inquiries regarding GED.

Print books still strong

A recent report from the Pew Research Center announced that the number of Americans owning a tablet computer or an ebook reader jumped from 18% in December to 29% in January.

While this is indeed a striking number, I'd like to point out the converse - prior to January, 82% of Americans did not own one of these devices, and as of January, 71% still do not. It might be too early to start moving a large percentage of your collection to the virtual shelves.

This week an article at paidcontent.org cites a Bowker study on book sales, reporting that the growth in ebook sales in 2011 was well below what had been predicted, and a relatively small number of "power buyers" are driving a large percentage of sales -- more so than in the print book marketplace. According to this study, 74% of book buyers have never bought an ebook, including 14% of those buyers who actually own an ereader or tablet but do not choose to read it for reading ebooks.

It is interesting to watch the adoption of new technology, but the old technology has a lot of staying power. What do these statistics look like in your library's community?