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Libraries Aren’t Pulling Any Punches When Explaining Publisher-Imposed Delays to Patrons

Macmillan’s new restrictions on library ebook sales went into effect on Friday, and OverDrive was ready.

Library patrons who reserve an ebook through the OverDrive Libby app are now being told that the Macmillan title they want to borrow is unavailable due to restrictions imposed by the publisher.

https://twitter.com/Aarya_Marsden/status/1190427383670738944

Macmillan’s new rules allow for libraries to only buy a single copy of a Macmillan title during the first 8 weeks after it is published. (The reason the libraries mentioned above have several copies but can’t buy more is that the 8-week window has also been imposed on books published in the past couple months.) That single copy costs a ridiculous $30, and not the punitive $60 that Macmillan usually charges for library ebooks.

image by brewbooks via Flickr

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Comments


Fbone November 3, 2019 um 3:02 pm

$30 for a perpetual copy is a good deal.


Libraries are Boycotting Macmillan eBooks | The Digital Reader November 3, 2019 um 8:36 pm

[…] some libraries are telling patrons that Macmillan's new restrictions are why its ebooks are not available, others are simply opting […]


MKS November 5, 2019 um 4:11 pm

It’s probably not a perpetual copy. My recollection (and I’m too lazy today to look it up, Nate probably knows) is that publishers sell metered e-books to libraries that disappear after X number of loans.


MKS November 5, 2019 um 4:13 pm

Here we go: "Every publisher is different, but the library rights to digital books typically expire after two years, or 52 lends. At that point, the library has to purchase another digital license for the ebook."

Nate Hoffelder November 5, 2019 um 4:17 pm

that first copy is perpetual – for now


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