Here’s your monthly fix of ebook price comparisons, compliments of the Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries Ebook Report. This kind of data is critical in supporting our arguments that ebooks cost darn too much.
As the Digital Content and Libraries Working Group (DCWG) begins its work this year, our work examining current business models remains a top priority. What have we learned thus far now that several business models are in place? Do public libraries appreciate the variety of models, or are they overwhelmed when trying to keep track of circulation numbers, length of term, and other ebook details? How many books and other resources are libraries not buying because of ebook prices? Are publishers more willing to consider reasonable prices now that the marketing and discovery value of ebooks in libraries has been demonstrated?
These questions will be just some of the issues the DCWG will grapple with this year.
CARRIE RUSSELL is program director of Public Access to Information in the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy.