[WEB4LIB] Library affiliation with Barnes & Noble or Ama

[CMUNSON]

That's too bad. Why are you trying to help Amazon.com put small bookstores 
out of business? Did you ever think about the fact that if everybody in the 
library world copied your actions, we'd have alot less diversity out there 
when it comes to bookstores?

Boycott Amazon.com

Chuck0


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Library affiliation with Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
Author:  "Watts; Richard" <rwatts at lib.co.san-bernardino.ca.us> at Internet
Date:    2/2/99 11:14 AM


My library became an Amazon.com affiliate last fall, and have a link to 
Amazon.com through our home page: 
(http://www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/library/)
We receive a small commission on each sale which is initiated from and 
completed on our home page. We also have some recommended titles (PW 
bestsellers and Ophra's Book Club selection for adults, and recommendations 
from ALA and our youth service staff for kids) for which we receive a larger 
commission.

I know that Tacoma, Wash. P.L. has an associate arrangement with Amazon.com, 
and NY Public has one with Barnes & Noble. Are there other libraries out 
there (public or academic) which have also established an affiliation with 
an on-line bookseller?  Is there anyone who considered such an arrangement 
but didn't follow through because of a legal opinion or the fear of 
offending local booksellers?

Most of the chain bookstores (Barnes & Noble, B. Dalton, and Waldenbooks) 
have stores in cities in our very large county (the largest in the lower 48 
states) which have independent city libraries, and which we do not directly 
serve. These stores pay no property taxes to support our library system. 
There is one Borders in a city which we do serve, but they have not 
complained to us.  However, there is a small radio station in an isolated 
desert community complaining that we are unfairly competing with "mom & pop" 
bookstores.  Of course, we have been competing with video rental stores for 
years, but that is not currently in dispute.

Please share any anecdotes or legal experiences with me at my personal 
e-mail address below.  By the way, don't be shy about ordering something if 
you visit our home page.


Richard S. Watts
Coordinator, Technical Services
San Bernardino County Library
104 W. Fourth St.
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0035
rwatts at lib.co.san-bernardino.ca.us
voice: 909-387-5733 fax: 909-387-5880