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What's missing from this discussion is the impact of reduced book availability on the poor or middle class. I grew up without much money, and spent much of my
by wycats 15y ago
What's missing from this discussion is the impact of reduced book availability on the poor or middle class.
I grew up without much money, and spent much of my time reading books borrowed from libraries. If library books were not available, it's unlikely I would have been able to read much beyond my school textbooks.
If the argument is that print book eventually wear out, forcing libraries to replace them, then by all means figure out the average number of "lends" before a library replaces a book, and provide books to libraries with limits along those lines. I assume that print books last far more than 26 lends.
In the face of radically improved theoretical access to information, changes to the library model that reduce the availability of books for people of limited means should be very carefully considered.
And yes, I know that libraries can still purchase and make available print books, but they have limited budgets. Libraries will be pressured to offer e-books, and if e-books cost substantially more than print books did per lend, that will result in a smaller number of available books for the most disadvantaged.
- danso 15y agoSame here. The public library was basically my weekend babysitter and I would read 2-3 books on an average weekend. It's hard to imagine how that would happen at a time when public book availability drastically declines without a corresponding increase in e-book readers for low-income residents.
- TheAmazingIdiot 15y agoI deign to say something like this then. If the lower and middle class keep getting squeezed out of things like libraries and media, perhaps pirating is the best option. That alone would apply strong downward force in cost of media already created. We see this by the fact that movies take on range of weeks before in retailers. It used to be sometimes even years. I can only see where these ebook loaning schemes go. I had a friend in the uni who bought an engineering text as an ebook. It was 50% the physical book price, so no big deal.... Until he found out of the conditions of sale as a EULA. He could only print 10 pages, and the book would self destruct after 180 days. So, I do what I do and cracked it for him. Took perhaps an hour. I understand what these libraries are fighting against. And I also know what's at stake for people who can't afford books. And then there's this short story about a right to read...