eBook Issues

with LiB and two others (fill in later!)

• with all the e-STUFF...why are eBooks such a contentious issue?
• is it about sharing?
• sharing will always win: major cultural and social head start! Our monkey brains are built around it. Have to share to survive
• sharing is already happening
• "The notions of copyright and intellectual property rights are quaint and adorable." lol!
• This guy is really good...reading his notes but super articulate.
• show the reader you value them by giving up rights to them
• if you treat a book like a book, people will act and respect it accordingly
• libs need to embrace and carry forward the cultural importance of a book into the digital age

Sarah H-J the LiB

• likes stirring stuff up
• lies that lib ebook vendors told:
• ...they're broke
• ...300% is as bad as it's going to get
• ...(will get worse)
• ...how high does it have to go before we have riots in the streets?
• ...publishers are forcing vendors to prevent libraries from owning...not true...publishers don't care as long as they get paid
• lies librarians tell ourselves:
• ...everyone reads ebooks (not everyone likes them)...generally around 5 to 10 % of circs (check ours...I should know the %!)
• ...we read our contracts and negotiate hard (we need to understand the terms, and take classes on negotiation)
  
• ...without eBooks libs will die...so not true...we are SO much more than that
• we need to take what society has created and equalize it
• "Don't mess with the Librarians, we will take you down!"

Michael Porter

• slides on slideshare at LibraryMan (link)
• what made libs work?
• ...some things that worked in the past don't work anymore
• ...technology makes libs more relevant and useful
• communities needs libs to thrive
• libs need new solutions. Substantial highly functional practical solutions...also sustainable.
• the role we fulfill in our communities is precious, meaningful and beautiful
• libraries = content + community
• format evoution requires new infrastructure
• what are the real costs? Why mark-ups? What are the mark-ups used for?
• a group of libs have formed a non-profit...Michael is a rep...to work out this stuff: there are enough libs in the USA to GAIN / take power...we do have control in our hands
• libraries control the infrastructure: sophisticated new models
• Library Renewal
• we need to come together, use this non-profit as a tool to change things: take some ation
• Library Renewal has been doing a lot of research, building relationships and partnerships and working on solutions
• currently seeking funding to build the infrastructure
• bottom line: more money for rights holders and publishers, and huge savings for libraries