Audiobooks discussion

Publishers are shortening the license periods of ebooks and audiobooks.

https://the-digital-reader.com/2019/0...

Sounds like it will be hard to get audiobooks that are more than 2 years old. Why would libraries pay to renew licenses on books unless they are super popular? It's as if they had to keep rebuying all the print books in the library, even those that are rarely checked out.

Libraries are growing and less and less libraries can gather more and more books.

I dont know how it works for ebooks. Do library for an ebook license and can they give one ebook simultaneously to thousands readers at the same time?

Same with audiobooks?

Who earns the additional money the publishers receive for an additional license?
• the publishers?
• the writer?

If the writer gets additional money for that, I have to say “Go ahead“.

Btw you get so many books for less than a buck/ pounds ...

On the other handy I bring my read books to cupboards. I live in Germany and in Munich, e.g., there are cupboards all over in Munich where you can change read books to other read books.

Audiblelovers.com wrote: "Libraries are growing and less and less libraries can gather more and more books.

I dont know how it works for ebooks. Do library for an ebook license and can they give one ebook simultaneously to..."


Libraries lend audiobooks and ebooks to one person at a time, just like physical books.

Faith wrote: "Publishers are shortening the license periods of ebooks and audiobooks.

https://the-digital-reader.com/2019/0..."

What actually does this mean for those of us who get books at Audible? Does it mean that more or less will become available? Ausiobooks that were only available in certain countries (often just in the US), will they now become available sooner to those of us living for example in Europe?

Chrissie wrote: "Faith wrote: "Publishers are shortening the license periods of ebooks and audiobooks.

https://the-digital-reader.com/2019/0..."

What..."

I don't think it will have any impact on where, or when, books are available to purchase. However, it likely means that we will have to buy more books rather than borrowing them. Unless they are very popular books they will probably disappear from libraries after the initial license expires.

Thank you for explaining, Faith. My library here in Sweden offers me NOTHING worth borrowing in audiobooks. Americans really should appreciate their libraries! I think it is a shame that the situation will deteriorate rather than improve with this change, for those in the US.

quote:
What actually does this mean for those of us who get books at Audible? Does it mean that more or less will become available? Ausiobooks that were only available in certain countries (often just in the US), will they now become available sooner to those of us living for example in Europe?

I am from Germany and I have an UK and an US audible account.
> It us impropable that it will change anything in Europe.

I recommend to you audible.co.uk
> the 2ⁿᵈ cheapest after audible.in
The selection is almost the same throughout Europe.
Sometimes I buy audibles on audible.com.

Dont forget that some books will vanish on audible anyway...
I have some audiobooks not available on the marketplace where I bought it

Audiblelovers.com wrote: "quote:
What actually does this mean for those of us who get books at Audible? Does it mean that more or less will become available? Ausiobooks that were only available in certain countries (often j..."
I have both a US and UK account too, but the UK account is the one I favor.

i'm glad to have a 'Netflix for audiobooks' type of subscription here in Belgium, I'm not sure if this will affect the company I 'borrow' the books from..

would hate te see books only for 2 years in their catalogue.. there's only so much time to listen to books..

This is Macmillan's new policy. It doesn't mention audiobooks.

https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detai...

Restriction of sales to libraries is not new. Publishers have routinely treated libraries differently from the general public. In 2011 HarperCollins limited e-book check out from library to 26 times and some other publishers would not sell e-books to libraries. Libraries often also pay more for physical books. Libraries buy extra copies of both physical and e copies due to long wait lists prior to publication. Within a relatively short time those extras are no longer checked out. Physical copies can be withdrawn and donated or sold but e copies just sit unread. It has been said that purchased physical books are owned but in the case of e format what is purchased is access. Restrictions may rebound on publishers since so many librarians and readers are furious this time. Libraries could divert funds to other popular areas. Libraries are sources for more than books.

My local newspaper had a feature story yesterday on this with comments by librarians about why it is a problem and how much longer patrons would need to wait for access to a book, if they can even get it. I think it is good that this is getting some public attention. It's largely an accessibility/equality issue. People with money can continue to buy everything if they want to, which I guess is what the publishers want. I bet if there were no public libraries and someone tried to set them up today, publishers would make it really difficult.

when i logged into overdrive the other day there was a banner that said due to Mcmillian's restrictions, they would not be purchasing anything for that first 60 days

but IMHO if they really want to hurt pockets - they need to do it both electronic format and print format

I think the publishers are going to find that the number of people who "have to have" a certain title is very limited. There are so many choices available today that I'm usually not wedded to reading any particular book enough to reallocate my budget to buy it. As long as there are good books available at the library, I will borrow those. I do buy books but it has to be something special for me to "fork over".

i think this is aimed more at the popular books - i.e. The Institute which in my library consortium bought 35 books and still has a 3 month hold period; or Becoming which had 1300 holds just for audiobook in my library

Dee wrote: "when i logged into overdrive the other day there was a banner that said due to Mcmillian's restrictions, they would not be purchasing anything for that first 60 days

but IMHO if they really want t..."

The Fairfax County Library has a banner that says it won’t be purchasing Macmillan or its imprints in digital formats. They did not set a time period. I know they are making a point, but this really screws library patrons.

Faith wrote: "The Fairfax County Library has a banner that says it won’t be purchasing Macmillan or its imprints in digital formats. They did not set a time period. I know they are making a point, but this really screws library patrons. "

yup - unfortunately - its let the publishers screw you over or let the library do it in protest...i don't know which is worse

Dee wrote: "when i logged into overdrive the other day there was a banner that said due to Mcmillian's restrictions, they would not be purchasing anything for that first 60 days

but IMHO if they really want t..."

Most libraries are Dee

Just got this from my library about this very topic. http://mcldaz.org/custom/about/ebooks/

Be sure to go online and sign the petition, it can't hurt and will let the libraries know how important it is to patrons. I signed it a couple of weeks ago. http://www.ebooksforall.org/

Macmillan has more plans to kill libraries.

http://www.readersfirst.org/news/2020...

i would love to know how much extra money Macmillan got with their latest shenanigans for restricting library borrows...or did they get any

Faith wrote: "Macmillan has more plans to kill libraries.

http://www.readersfirst.org/news/2020..."

Thanks for posting this. Since library I use locally is a branch I sometimes learn information online before it trickles down to our region or local library.

Dee wrote: "i would love to know how much extra money Macmillan got with their latest shenanigans for restricting library borrows...or did they get any"

They didn't get any from me. I no longer buy books from Macmillan, regardless of format or imprint.

When Macmillan started restricting library access with TOR imprint I suspected situation would get worse and it continues to do so. I have enough books TBR without buying more from Macmillan. Will I miss having that new, often autographed, first edition hardback? I'll certainly notice when it comes to authors I've collected for 20-30 years but I don't need the book the way the community needs the library. While I like to support authors I feel the good of libraries to the community outweighs the importance of me owning books by any individual author.

My library is boycotting Macmillan. I’m doing my best to do the same. I won’t purchase from them outright, but I have listened to a few on Scribd and on Audible Escape. I’m trying to support smaller independent publishers like Henery Press.

The Macmillan embargo is over.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...

Wow!

Faith wrote: "The Macmillan embargo is over.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b..."

Fantastic news! Thank you for sharing Faith. 🙂

Faith wrote: "The Macmillan embargo is over.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b..."

Good news. Thanks for posting.

Interesting, they probably don't want to miss out at a time when ebook demand will be super high. It's good other publishers didn't have time to join them.

It's possible they didn't get the increase in sales they hoped for and they probably didn't anticipate the level of resistance they encountered.

Rita wrote: "How do you stay so on top of everything, Faith?"

I saw this posted in another group.