[Web4lib] Circulating Kindle and Nooks

Sun Apr 11 14:06:57 EDT 2010

Dear Brian,

Though there may well be a mindset issue here, I hope you may be more
charitable in my regard. I am a pretty serious library technologist
who has done genuinely new work—mindset busting—work in the field, and
thought and written extensively on the ebook issue. I may not be
right, but I am not a victim of anyone's mindset.

Frankly, if I may reverse your ascription, if is a mindset problem
here it is the idea that libraries must uncritically "adapt to the
future" when it come to technology. I'm glad that libraries take a
more critical approach on other seemingly inevitable changes—for
example when patron privacy is violated by governments, or when
short-sighted politicians seek to close public libraries during a
recession.

In this case I contend that gadget manufacturers and publishers are
fundamentally altering the legal context of intellectual production in
a way that undermines the legal rights and economic value of
libraries, the ethical standards of librarians and the rights of
patrons.

A world where libraries offer no significant economic savings over
individual purchasing is one in which the library risks becoming
nothing more than a content rental subsidy with a building to heat. I
see similar related declines or outsourcing of professional values
when it comes to privacy, curatorship and reference help. The library
of the future is "hollowing out" very dangerously. I don't regard the
provision of free video games as a making up for that.

So if your future library is a book subsidy plus subsidized
computers—in an age of rapidly declining computer costs—plus some
off-mission babysitting, I suggest we shut the doors, because it's not
a library, and it's not the money.

It's not clear to what, if anything, libraries can do to change this
future. I think there are a few things to be done. We can start by
talking about the issue squarely and in detail, without either
mindsets or the accusation of mindsets.

Sincerely,

Tim Spalding

Some of my blog posts on the ebook topic:
*http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2010/04/reading-alone-how-ebooks-will-kill.php
*http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2010/02/why-are-you-for-killing-libraries.php
*http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2009/10/ebook-economics-are-libraries-screwed.php

On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 1:14 PM, Brian Gray <mindspiral at gmail.com> wrote:
> Is it short sighted of a profession or organizations to not adapt to the
> future rather than expecting the "very thing that brought libraries into
> existence" will sustain them for ever? We see organizations and companies
> all the time fail and disappear with this mindset.
>
> Also, many of the ebooks libraries are providing are of a model similar to
> our print books, maybe better - accessible to many users and unlimited
> access.
>
> Which library provided ebooks are collection all the patron information that
> you suggest?
>
> Brian Gray
> mindspiral at gmail.com
> bcg8 at case.edu
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 12:48 AM, Tim Spalding <tim at librarything.com> wrote:
>>
>> Dear Chris,
>>
>> I think your approach is novel, and well thought-out. I have two
>> reactions.
>>
>> ## Technical: I wonder if you might make it even easier. Some
>> questions, for you and for other tech people with more experience in
>> both Overdrive and Nook systems:
>>
>> 1. Can you put all the Overdrive books into your OPAC, either directly
>> or as buttons on some records? Having them on a separate website just
>> reinforces the "distance."
>> 2. Can Nook content-loading be partially or fully automated? I'm
>> thinking the user clicks the "Load onto a Nook!" button in the OPAC
>> and ten minutes later it's waiting at the front desk.
>>
>> ## Philosophical: In my opinion, these are all feeding the beast. In
>> and of itself, these arguments can seem self-serving, but libraries
>> need to stand up against ereaders.
>>
>> The problem isn't the medium—which is wonderful—but the completely
>> different legal context. Ebooks are controlled, both legally and
>> through DRM, which means publishers can finally restrict the very
>> thing created and sustains libraries. I am speaking about the rights
>> of ownership and first-sale, by which a library buys a book once, like
>> a consumer, but gets a lot more value out of it by organizing to have
>> many people read it. In short, ebooks undermine the very thing that
>> brought libraries into existence. Ebooks also threaten other core
>> library values, like reader privacy. A few years ago librarians went
>> crazy over proportionally small threats to patron privacy. Now they're
>> endorsing a small set of companies that know every book you've bought,
>> every page you've read, every note you've written and have your
>> address and credit card too.
>>
>> So, maybe the answer is for librarians to stand up and demand ebooks
>> that change the medium, not the rights.
>>
>> Tim
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 8:12 PM, Chris (CE) <crippel at ckls.org> wrote:
>> > Dear Colleagues,
>> >
>> > I doubt libraries can afford to buy expensive e-reading devices for
>> > every
>> > reader who may want to use these devices in the future.
>> >
>> > Providing content to owners of e-reading devices is a more affordable
>> > future
>> > for libraries.
>> >
>> > Circulating Kindles teaches using and encourages buying devices that
>> > exclude
>> > libraries from providing content to e-reading devices.
>> >
>> > This ultimately weakens patrons' connection with libraries.
>> >
>> > Surely it is better to teach patrons to use and encourage them to buy
>> > devices that would continue, if not strengthen, our relationships with
>> > readers.
>> >
>> > I would like you opinion of the following idea doing this.
>> >
>> > Step 1. The library posts the following flyer.
>> >
>> > "TRY ONE OF OUR READING NOOKS
>> >
>> > "Kansas libraries have a collection of Overdrive e-books. Overdrive
>> > e-books
>> > can be read on regular computers, but reading them on Nooks and Sony
>> > Readers
>> > is more comfortable and fun.
>> >
>> > "We will set you down at a computer to let you select up to 10 books. We
>> > will put the books on one of our Nooks or Sony Readers. The device will
>> > be
>> > checked out to you for three weeks. You will go home with the device and
>> > a
>> > set of instructions on using it to read your selection.
>> >
>> > "Valid library card and signing a user’s agreement are required. Check
>> > it
>> > out."
>> >
>> > Step 2. Patrons wanting to try a reading Nook are set down in front of a
>> > computer logged into Overdrive's Web site. Library staff instruct
>> > patrons to
>> > add up to 10 e-books to "my cart."
>> >
>> > When patrons are finished, library staff loads the selected e-books into
>> > the
>> > Nook or Sony Reader and checks the device out to the patron along with
>> > instructions on how to use the device to read the e-books.
>> >
>> > The e-books expire and the device needs to be returned at the same time,
>> > e.g., three weeks.
>> >
>> > This process may be repeated for the patron one or two more times.
>> >
>> > Step 3. After library staff do the Overdrive check out for one or two
>> > times,
>> > library staff then teaches patrons to do their own Overdrive checkout.
>> >
>> > I have illustrated, step-by-step instructions for putting Overdrive
>> > e-books
>> > into Nooks at
>> >
>> > http://ebooksinlibraries.blogspot.com/2010/04/getting-free-content-into-your-nook.html
>> >
>> > Patrons are allowed to do this once or twice then the device is given to
>> > another patron wanting to try the device.
>> >
>> > What problems do you think you see with this idea?
>> >
>> > --
>> > Thanks,
>> >
>> > Chris Rippel
>> > Central Kansas Library System
>> > 1409 Williams
>> > Great Bend, Kansas 67530
>> > 620-792-4865 (voice)
>> > 620-792-5495 (fax)
>> > crippel at ckls dot org
>> > http://ceprojects.blogspot.com
>> > http://creatingreaderfriendlylibraries.blogspot.com
>> > http://publiclibraryshelftalkers.blogspot.com
>> >
>> > Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and
>> > probably
>> > will themselves not be realized. ~ Daniel Burnbam, Architect for Plan of
>> > Chicago, 1909
>> >
>> > The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be
>> > honorable,
>> > to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived
>> > and
>> > lived well. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Web4lib mailing list
>> > Web4lib at webjunction.org
>> > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding
>>
>>
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>
>

-- 
Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding