As a librarian I can tell you that the people who loose here are not only readers, but communities. It's very difficult to explain to a user who wants title X i

As a librarian I can tell you that the people who loose here are not only readers, but communities. It's very difficult to explain to a user who wants title X in e-book format that the publisher doesn't offer it, that we can't buy certain titles or that availability is limited due to publisher limitations. They simply see a failure of the library model. Most of these users will not turn to pirating, they will turn to buying. This is bad for them, for the library and for the community that relies on and benefits from that library. Of course, this will also drive piracy, but to a smaller degree that people think (most of our e-book users are not technically literate). I do think, however, that over time as more users find it's difficult to get reasonably priced content to their readers, they will turn to alternate methods, and force publishers into a DRM free, reader friendly system. Of course, that, like music, locks out libraries. Our only real hope is that publishers can work with authors to come up with a 21st century compensation system that allows for subscription purchasing (ensuring an ongoing revenue for publishers and unfettered access for library users) or that more authors bypass publishers all together and make their material available in a library friendly manner.