From: Sandy Thatcher <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:27:44 -0600

It looks as though library ebook lending practices are getting more
varied and more favorable to libraries. This news item from Publishers
Lunch today reveals some of the variation, with Macmillan allowing for
two years and/or 52 checkouts and Ingram's program allowing for
multiple borrowers simultaneously.  Do these models make sense for
libraries financially? I suppose for public libraries the most
pressing concern is to maximize the availability of new popular titles
to patrons, so multiple borrowing privileges would be very appealing,
whereas for academic libraries two years of use could help determine
whether there was a longer-term need for some of the titles
borrowed--rather the way PDA works.

Sandy Thatcher

*****************

At 8:43 AM -0800 1/25/13, Publishers Lunch wrote:

Macmillan Initiates Library eBook Lending With 1200 Minataur Backlist Titles

Macmillan has fulfilled ceo John Sargent's end-of-year promise and
will start making ebooks available for library lending for the first
time, beginning "before the end of the first quarter." Macmillan will
offer 1200 backlist ebooks from its crime and mystery fiction imprint
Minotaur through several distributors, including at launch 3M,
OverDrive, and Baker & Taylor. Each purchased title will be available
for 2 years or 52 lends, whichever comes first.

All of the books in the program will have the same digital list price.
That price was not included in the publisher's announcement, but
InfoDocket reports they will sell for $25 per ebook according to
Michael Lovett at OverDrive. Interestingly, Macmillan's choice of a
dedicated genre imprint as the vehicle through which it tries digital
lending through libraries mirrors its foray into DRM-free ebooks
through science fiction & fantasy imprint Tor.

In a statement Sargent said, "Librarians have been asking for eBooks
from Macmillan for their collections. Among the many titles we
publish, mystery and crime fiction makes up one of the largest
categories and Minotaur Books is the primary source. And, as the
library market has always been one of Minotaur's largest customers, we
think that this pilot will provide books especially desired by library
patrons. At the same time we do not expect it will heavily impact our
retail sales over time."

Minotaur publisher Andy Martin added: "The libraries have always been
great supporters of the Minotaur publishing program and a critical
mainstay of the category. I am delighted that our books will be the
entry of Macmillan into library e-lending. We know mystery and crime
fiction is a huge category for libraries and this collection will have
something for everyone."

Upon learning of the Macmillan news, ALA president Maureen Sullivan
said in astatement: "I m so pleased Macmillan Publishers is beginning
to sell e-books to America's libraries so that we may connect their
authors and our readers in the digital age. This is a welcome
acknowledgment of our advocacy and the importance of the library
market. We have always known that library lending encourages patrons
to experiment by sampling new authors, topics and genres. This
experimentation stimulates the market for books, with the library
serving as a critical de facto discovery, promotion and awareness
service for authors and publishers....While today's announcement is
only a first step, we look forward to the release of more details
about the pilot and continuing work together to bring even more
Macmillan e-titles to libraries in the future."

Though Ingram is not one of the launch distributors for Macmillan, the
company announced earlier this week that they are adding an ebook
lending model to their MyiLibrary platform. Their new Access Model
allows for simultaneous lends to multiple patrons (while Macmillan's
pilot sticks to the standard trade model of one lend at a time per
copy). Libraries purchase a set of "access credits" for an e-book and
"lend it simultaneously to multiple patrons for a set cost, and
lending period."


Publishers set the prices for those access credits, and each publisher
on the platform--which Ingram says offers over 400,000 titles--can
decide, on a per title basis, which of Ingram's various sale models
apply.