Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Can Libraries Afford Ebooks Given Current Pricing Models?

2 Comments
Image by Welkyn Software Solutions. Retrieved from FlickR. Used under Creative Common's licensing.
Image by Welkyn Software Solutions. Retrieved from FlickR. Used under Creative Common’s licensing.

If you follow ebook news, you have no doubt heard of James LaRue, Executive Director of the Douglas County Libraries (Colorado). Patrons often want the New York Times list of bestsellers in ebook format. But, it is doubtful that they understand how dearly libraries are paying for some of these titles. Ebook prices are set by the publisher, and current distributor business models depend on pocketing more than half of the sale. In true form, Larue challenges librarians as to why they are willing to go along with this model. Prepare to be astounded by the following chart that compares the library pricing of an ebook as opposed to consumer pricing. What does this mean for the future of libraries if readers increasingly ask for ebook formats?

2 thoughts on “Can Libraries Afford Ebooks Given Current Pricing Models?”

  1. Interesting lead in and would be very interested to see this chart you refer to however I cannot seem to access it due to some kind of password lock.

    1. Thank you so much for bringing the breakage in our link to my attention. I redirected it to the online resource. Please let me know if you have additional concerns.
      Michelle

Comments are closed.