Fantasy Aficionados discussion

Article from The Economist: http://www.economist.com/news/interna...

PLASTERED on the wall of San Francisco’s main public library are 50,000 index cards, formerly entries in the library’s catalogue. The tomes they refer to may be becoming decorative, too. Not only can library patrons now search the collection online, they may also check out electronic books without visiting the library. For librarians, “e-lending” is a natural offer in the digital age. Publishers and booksellers fear it could unbind their business.

Worries about the effect of libraries on the book trade are not new. But digital devices, which allow books to reach readers with ease and speed, intensify them. As Brian Napack, president of Macmillan, a big publisher, put it in 2011, the fear is that someone who gets a library card will “never have to buy a book again”.

I can't speak for others but I have fond memories of spending entire days during the summer wandering my library's stacks. I would check out bags of books at a time...and read them all! While my original desire to read came from my mom, libraries fostered and nurtured that love. Libraries were my safe space when the world refused to understand why such a young girl would rather read books than chase boys or I was picked on for my reading choices. Books were my friends - and the libraries the books' understanding and welcoming parents - when I had no friends.

If libraries didn't exists...I would NOT be a book purchaser today. I would probably rather watch TV or whatever it is that non-readers do.

But that's my story.

As we slowly move away from the printed word and into ebooks, publishers feel they have the opportunity to get rid of libraries.

What do you think of the current desire by large book publishers to want to do away with library access to ebooks?

I think it would be a mistake. And likely to lead to more piracy, not less. And fewer purchases, not more.

So many times, I am led to purchase books because I have first found them (or previous books in a series) at the library. Or loaned from a friend. Book sales proportionally relate to word of mouth. In one form or another. I am much more likely to try out a book in which I have nothing but time invested. Taking books out of this system will not improve their bottom line. At least in my oh so very humble opinion. :)

I only bought a Kindle after they allowed library lending. I very rarely by e-books because they are diffacult or unavailble to lend to friends. I won't buy a book from an author I am unfamiliar with. If i borrow a book/author from the library and really like it and want to re-read it or lend it to others then i buy. Without the library I wouldn't read nearly as much as i do esp with the cost of books now.

MrsJo, I had the same early formative experience with libraries. I came from a family of readers, but frequent trips to the public library helped to fan the flame, molding me into the reader that I am today.

As an adult, I have only recently found my way back to the public library. It was the availability of the digital library that brought me back.

Like Sonja, it is through the digital library that I have discovered some of my favorite series (Kate Daniels, Night Angel, Mercy Thompson, Kitty Norville, Night Huntress, Dorina Basarab - I could go on). Consequently, I have purchased books from the same series or author. In fact, tonight, I am going to Barnes & Noble to purchase ANOTHER Mercy Thompson graphic novel (oh yeah, I am THAT much of a dork!).

The publishing industry has changed. If the big boys don't figure it out soon and get over their fear of lost profits, someone else is going to step in and revolutionize the industry. For me, that cannot happen soon enough.

If every person who wants to do away with Libraries was beaned in the head with a hard, dry bean--maybe they'll stop plotting such nonsense.

LOL, Soo. I second the motion for the beaning revolution.

Soo wrote: "If every person who wants to do away with Libraries was beaned in the head with a hard, dry bean--maybe they'll stop plotting such nonsense."

lol! Agreed

Soo wrote: "If every person who wants to do away with Libraries was beaned in the head with a hard, dry bean--maybe they'll stop plotting such nonsense."

Let the Beaning begin!

Stephanie wrote: "Soo wrote: "If every person who wants to do away with Libraries was beaned in the head with a hard, dry bean--maybe they'll stop plotting such nonsense."

Let the Beaning begin!"

:-D


But yeah, I do think the idea to try to get more money now will cannibalize their sales later. Who's going to buy their books in 10 years if libraries don't carry them? Most parents don't have the money to constantly buy books that suit a fickle child/teen changing interests. If my mom had to support my book habit back in the day...I wouldn't have read anything.

Sometimes I wanted to read romance, other times I needed fantasy. I went through a crazy YA phase in HS (Yes, in HS I would browse the kiddie stacks with the real kiddies. They had these teeny shelves stuffed to the brim with books), and sometimes I wanted to read about the Australian Dreamtime.

Who are these guys kidding?? If there are no libraries...my kids will end up reading what I want to read. Not what they want to read.

I can't imagine if my parents actually had to foot the bill for my youth reading habit. Heck, I hate the thought of actually funding the full extent of my current reading habit!

I totally agree that if they used long-term strategy, they would realize that libraries plant the seeds of their future success. So few companies understand that these days.

Most of my books were purchased later once I could buy them on my own, like past age 16 because of various factors. I had a normal for Asian not so normal for American upbringing. My parents actually wanted me to stay home and take care of a bazillion stuffs. I was like the TRUE MOM! Haha- Anyways. Almost ALL of my reading has been due to great libraries and it would SUCK if that disappeared. Totally lame.

It bothers me that real bookstores are going out of style. It really does. I would much rather hangout in a bookstore with a cup of coffee or tea than in a coffee shop without books or a bar. Bars are great as long as I'm doing one of the following: dancing, singing, excitingly jumping up and down to live shows, or dragged to celebrate with friends. That's it. Hahaha

Is there a signup where people can vote to keep libraries and bookstores open? I'm going with the idea there is always a signup list somewhere. Heh

Soo wrote: "Most of my books were purchased later once I could buy them on my own, like past age 16 because of various factors. I had a normal for Asian not so normal for American upbringing. My parents actual..."

I believe that any petition with (I want to say 150k+ sigs) and sent to the white house requires a response. Now, not to say you will get the response you want to hear (see the WH response to the request of the building of the Death Star: This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For) but you should get a response.

Based on the fact that my child visits her Jr. High library weekly, devouring book after book, I don't honestly think libraries are going anywhere. Their form may change, but I think libraries will still exist.

It's stupid for the publishing industry not to take them into consideration. Right now there is talk among writers that perhaps they should start contacting libraries directly to ensure availability of their books. We'll see what happens.

Judy wrote: "It's stupid for the publishing industry not to take them into consideration. Right now there is talk among writers that perhaps they should start contacting libraries directly to ensure availability of their books. We'll see what happens. "


That would make me soooooo happy.

It's hard - I've heard - to get into a library without a publisher backing (at least for indies). But that is changing as publishers try to screw over libraries. The best writers are always readers first...which usually means they are library fans.*

*I've read some who hate it because they want to be paid per reader, not per book. Those types also dislike lending and used book stores. :(

Put me down for a few beanballs please. I too remember days spent in the massive libraries here in NYC. Me and my best friend would scour the epic fantasy shelves and spend entire weekends in the library. Unfortunately, this change is much like the kids today. DO they ever go outside? Go up to a random kid and ask him if he knows what Red Light, Green Light means.

I'd gladly take my books to any library that would accept them. Libraries did not stop an author from making a buck back then as lending won't now. It's always been a one hand washes the other type of thing, but some are blind to that.

As a librarian, I find this topic extremely irksome! I hate that the publishing companies are being so completely obnoxious regarding ebooks, although I did see that Penguin is now going to allow best seller ebooks to be available to libraries after they did they own "test." Readers that are buyers will still buy their books. I often have several different versions of the same book. Libraries do a lot to promote books! Maybe authors need to demand that their books be available to libraries. The 25-use limit is ridiculous too! Perhaps some limit is reasonable, as a heavily used book would need to be replaced, but 25 times is too small. Libraries are under severe budget crunches, and what happens in all these cases is that some items and services get cut. Sometimes that means that the breadth of selection is cut--especially in children's collections like school libraries, where parents see books on the shelves and say, why do we need more?

Oh heavens, please tell me you don't have parents saying, "why do you need more library books?" That's awful.

I know that my library system allows local self-published authors to submit physical books to be added to the catalog. They do pretty well on our shelves, too. What I would want to see is an indie e-book database that could either be rolled into Overdrive or serve as a standalone library borrowing service to get the word out for indie authors.

Myself, I own an ipad and have checked a few library books out on it, but only if they weren't physically available; a physical book is still just more comfortable to me. And if I like a book I've borrowed, I buy it, because I can't keep the library's copy. That would be rude.

As for the fate of libraries themselves, the system I work at has seen steadily increasing patronage. While much of that is for our public computers and children's programs, it highlights the fact that libraries aren't just about books. They're essential community spaces which are willing to branch out into other supportive and creative services to match the community's needs. Recently our district was rescued from budget cuts by community activism, so if you're concerned about the state of your local libraries, speak up for them.

Obviously libraries haven't stopped people from buying books, because they're still being sold.

It seems really simple to me. Who buys books? The people who read. And where do they go? Libraries. *shrugs*

H. Anthe wrote: "I know that my library system allows local self-published authors to submit physical books to be added to the catalog. They do pretty well on our shelves, too. What I would want to see is an indi..."

I wish that all libraries did that. My current system is pretty decent. Nothing as good as the one in my youth but it's nice.

One of my author friends tried to get her book and others into libraries - she said she ran into a huge problem with needing the book to be published by a larger company.

When I was a kid 10+ years ago, our local library was the best. Then, when I came to the age of about twelve or so- I stopped frequenting the library. Why?
Hobos. Who liked to take naps/trip out in the teen book sections. Sure, the librarians said, "No elder people loitering in the teen book section." But did they enforce it? Nope.
So, I learned to be a prioritization book buyer. It taught me much about the value and exaggeration of the blurbs and summary on the back of the book, the importance of page count.
The only other library I had access to was my private catholic school library, chock full of stories of saints, ect, 90% of which was 50+ years old.
That being said, libraries are essential- and I am glad to annouce we are building a new one in my city, hopefully with an area for the poor homeless people to rest.
My hope is that libraries will continue to provide books to young kids, teens, and their parents who cannot afford to buy books.

One solution may be to charge a minor fee per read... It's something that I've seen discussed elsewhere on other issues, but may taper any decline in book revenue from the publisher's perspective. It's probably only a matter of time before something like this happens--I could also see sponsorship space in places. (Frowny face)

Obviously, I can only speak for myself. However ... when there is a book I love, I go out and purchase a copy for myself. I don't want to be stuck waiting on library lists to be able to get it back in my hands if I want to re-read it! And many of my favorite books, I own both in ebook format and in print (some only in print; I like to be able to skip around, choose a place, and read from there).

Libraries, to me, are like public schools: it is in our best interest to keep such stores of knowledge available for free. (I only wish other taxpayers would take this view.) When I look around myself and the prolific nature of ebooks and texting, I don't think that libraries or print books have failed - I think that they've succeeded. We live in an age of unparalleled literacy, and it's great!