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Those same libraries can then resell their excess copies a few years later at a Friends of the Library sale and recoup a few dollars. This isn’t possible with e

Those same libraries can then resell their excess copies a few years later at a Friends of the Library sale and recoup a few dollars. This isn’t possible with e-books currently.

itsgrimetime 3y ago
Are they prohibited from reselling the licenses?
- dagw 3y ago
  Depends slightly where you are, but often the ebook licenses are time limited, often to 1 year. So not only can't you resell the licenses, you have to keep rebuying them.
  - kazinator 3y ago
    Public libraries really should stay away from e-anything, in my opinion. No library would purchase anything of the sort under my watch. Obviously, since patrons check it out, there is demand for it. Well, so what? There is demand for cocaine and porn; should public libraries offer that? Demand for something doesn't ipso facto oblige a library to provide it.
    - Nevermark 3y ago
      > there is demand for it. Well, so what? Of course demand for something doesn't make it something that should be free. On the other hand, your arguments against e-libraries are just as vague and lacking in implication. Libraries promote literacy and/or learning with every book read. Even as a source of entertainment, it promotes a richer culture. All of which does have a total health of society benefit.
    - LeafItAlone 3y ago
      > Public libraries really should stay away from e-anything, in my opinion. No library would purchase anything of the sort under my watch. Why not? What are your goals of a public library?
      - kazinator 3y ago
        Strictly physical items. Books, musical instruments, power tools ... no e-garbage. Nothing with an expiring license or ongoing fees.
        LeafItAlone 3y ago
        That seems to be your implementation. What are your goals?
thaumasiotes 3y ago
That doesn't really matter; as you just noted, the library gets a few dollars by doing so. $4 after two years is an amount that, if it went away, wouldn't matter.

Those same libraries can then resell their excess copies a few years later at a Friends of the Library sale and recoup a few dollars. This isn’t possible with e-books currently.

itsgrimetime 3y ago

Are they prohibited from reselling the licenses?

dagw 3y ago
Depends slightly where you are, but often the ebook licenses are time limited, often to 1 year. So not only can't you resell the licenses, you have to keep rebuying them.
- kazinator 3y ago
  Public libraries really should stay away from e-anything, in my opinion. No library would purchase anything of the sort under my watch. Obviously, since patrons check it out, there is demand for it. Well, so what? There is demand for cocaine and porn; should public libraries offer that? Demand for something doesn't ipso facto oblige a library to provide it.
  - Nevermark 3y ago
    > there is demand for it. Well, so what? Of course demand for something doesn't make it something that should be free. On the other hand, your arguments against e-libraries are just as vague and lacking in implication. Libraries promote literacy and/or learning with every book read. Even as a source of entertainment, it promotes a richer culture. All of which does have a total health of society benefit.
  - LeafItAlone 3y ago
    > Public libraries really should stay away from e-anything, in my opinion. No library would purchase anything of the sort under my watch. Why not? What are your goals of a public library?
    - kazinator 3y ago
      Strictly physical items. Books, musical instruments, power tools ... no e-garbage. Nothing with an expiring license or ongoing fees.
      - LeafItAlone 3y ago
        That seems to be your implementation. What are your goals?

thaumasiotes 3y ago

That doesn't really matter; as you just noted, the library gets a few dollars by doing so. $4 after two years is an amount that, if it went away, wouldn't matter.