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Against the Grain

Volume 25 | Issue 6 Article 9

2013 Lending Platforms John Novak University of Nevada, Las Vegas, [email protected]

Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/atg Part of the and Information Science Commons

Recommended Citation Novak, John (2013) "eBook Lending Platforms," Against the Grain: Vol. 25: Iss. 6, Article 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/2380-176X.7404

This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University . Please contact @purdue.edu for additional information. eBook Lending Platforms by John Novak ( , University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

or the purposes of this article, the defini- mobile devices that users may access to view challenges, for DRM’s “purpose is to limit tion of an eBook lending platform is one eBook content. Additionally, the differences access to to select devices and users — that contains eBooks from multiple pub- between eBook lending platforms and aggre- essentially making ‘digital objects not behave F 4 lishers that patrons may browse and checkout. gators are shrinking. For example, ebrary digitally’ (Neiburger).” The popularity of the Though these platforms have eBooks that allow is beginning to explore “checkout-based content of these eBooks, and patron desire to for multiple and simultaneous users, in general distribution systems ... where library users read this on their preferred mobile device, puts they have a one-, one-user model. Details can ‘check out’ an eBook.”2 Until the patron the library in a difficult position of satisfying about the major eBook lending platforms for checks in the eBook, it would be unavailable public demand and negotiating favorable academic libraries, eBook lending platform in the same way it is not available in an licensing terms with eBook lenders characteristics, why and how an academic eBook lending platform. Downloaded (and publishers) without much library would license one, and finally what the eBooks on both platforms also have leverage. future of this rapidly changing environment DRM associated with them. eBook prices for libraries may hold are explained in this article. A big difference between aggrega- are also a big challenge. Since Examples of eBook lending platforms and eBook lending platforms are many eBooks cost more than discussed in this section are Axis 360, 3M the mass-market content available their print equivalent, duplicat- Cloud Library, Freading, LexisNexis Dig- primarily in the latter platform. ing formats of the same content ital Library, and Overdrive. The following Content from the Big Six publish- puts an additional strain on characteristics are what most of these platforms ers (, HarperCollins, budgets that have been slashed share. First, patrons have the option of Macmillan, Penguin, Random during the recent recession. As eBooks in a variety of platforms, whether in House, and Simon & Schus- eBooks command more and the cloud via their preferred browser, on a ter) is found primarily in these more dollars of an ever-shrink- dedicated e-reader (or e-ink reader like the eBook lending platforms, and ing budget, directors of public Kindle, Nook, Reader, etc.), or on an app some publishers have their libraries have led the charge on a tablet device. They each have an off-line own, and sometimes exclu- to find solutions and promote version of the eBook that users can download sive, relationship with these public awareness of the eco- and access. To protect eBook piracy and to platforms. For example, HarperCollins nomics of the eBook lending landscape. For enforce circulation periods, these eBooks are have a 26-uses-per-year checkout limit example, Jamie (James) LaRue, director of encoded with Digital Rights Management on each of its eBooks, which means that after the Douglas County Library in Colorado, (DRM) . DRM for these eBooks is the year is up, libraries need to “purchase” has opted for a campaign of transparency, usually managed with another eBook. Purchase is an inaccurate term, monthly reports that compare and a user-created Adobe ID. In this one-book, for libraries do not buy eBooks in this model. eBook prices of from Overdrive one-user model, libraries can set loan periods Instead, they lease it. Publishers not only de- and 3M with the print and consumer eBook for eBooks that generally last one to three fine the leasing terms, but prices as well. For price.5 The July 2013 report indicates that 12 weeks. Libraries can also limit the number example, at the time of this writing, Random out of 20 top .com titles are available of checkouts per patron and develop a hold House charges libraries wanting to license an to be borrowed from either 3M or Overdrive. queue for patrons to receive eBooks once they eBook three times the commercial price of Costs for the eBook lender versions of the 12 are returned. To satisfy demand, it is common its print counterpart. The State Library of available titles range from $7.99 to $90.00; the for libraries to purchase multiple copies of an Kansas has created a Facebook page entitled print equivalent from vendor Baker & Taylor eBook on these platforms. The above eBook The Big 6 – eBooks in Libraries (https://www. has costs that range from $7.79 to $21.58. The lending platforms will also develop a custom- facebook.com/thebig6ebooks) that details the average price difference between purchasing izable that allows patrons to browse current state of licensing mass-market material a print book on amazon.com and licensing eBook content available from their academic from these publishers based on information the eBook is $32.35 per book. With an an- library. MARC records are provided to the from the 3M platform. nual budget of $3.4 million, the $32.00/book academic libraries, sometimes at a cost, and There is one niche eBook lending platform difference can significantly eat into Douglas all have detailed help designed to help worth highlighting, the LexisNexis Digital Li- County Library’s ability to provide a variety patrons get started with eBook borrowing. brary. LexisNexis has been working with the of material to its patron base. eBook lending platforms are popular and legal community for decades, and their eBook Most academic libraries license content user-friendly. First, there are no overdue lending platform provides access to “primary from eBook lending platforms to support charges, and apps are available that allow users law, deskbooks, code books, [and] treatises.”3 their leisure, or popular, reading collection. to read their book on a variety of e-reader or To distribute these eBooks, LexisNexis has This eBook service is somewhat analogous mobile devices. Patrons can also download partnered with Overdrive to provide custom- to McNaughton plans, which allows libraries eBooks from their library at any time and ized legal content to law firms and academic to lease popular current fiction and nonfiction anywhere there is access, provided libraries. Due to their relationship with legal print books so that patrons can have quicker ac- that the eBook is not checked out. The eBook publishers, LexisNexis can provide more types cess to new releases. eBook lending platforms lending platforms also support some assistive of lending options (such as simultaneous users could also complement or replace the e-reader screen-reader technologies that allow patrons and longer checkout periods) to their subscrib- lending program that some academic libraries with reading and visual disabilities to read ers than one might get from a regular eBook have started. For an institution, it may be more eBooks. For example, last year, Axis 360 lending platform license. cost-effective and easier to license an eBook was honored by the National Federation of There are challenges and issues for libraries that users may then place on their own e-reader the Blind for their work in making eBooks within this eBook lending platform landscape. device than to purchase multiple Kindles or accessible with the additional ability to be read For example, the preservation of cultural Nooks, load on them, and then aloud through their app.1 heritage mission of the library is threatened. circulate to patrons. Comparing eBook lending platforms with It is hard to preserve the heritage of materials There are more reasons for academic librar- aggregator platforms such as EBL, ebrary and when license, not own, the content. ies to consider an eBook lending platform. For EBSCOhost, one finds some similarities. They Without ownership, interlibrary loans are example, eBook lending platforms can provide all deal with multiple publishers and some difficult in an eBook environment. DRM access to juvenile literature. At the University aggregators, like ebrary, provide a reader for associated with these eBooks provides access continued on page 24 22 Against the Grain / December 2013 - January 2014 The future of eBook lending platforms is Six are all involved in some way with eBook eBook Lending Platforms in flux, but there are models and developments lending platforms and libraries, along with from page 22 that point the way to future relationships be- more eBook lenders outside of Overdrive to tween publishers, distributors, and libraries. work with Big Six publishers, libraries will of Nevada Las Vegas, my home institution, we One model that could be attractive to academic have to track and see if pricing and lending have started offering patrons access to juvenile libraries is where the library becomes the dis- practices for all the Big Six publishers become literature in Overdrive to supplement our tributor and works directly with publishers to more uniform. children’s literature collection that supports our obtain and distribute eBooks. On blogs and in To actively shape the future of eBook College of Education’s K-12 program. Some library articles, this is being called the Douglas lending platforms, libraries and of these eBook lending platforms also provide County Libraries (or DCL) model, based are participating in eBook lending advocacy , an option that can expand the on this library system’s success in providing groups that are working to create solutions popular literature possibilities for your patrons. eBooks to its patrons. DCL negotiates deals that are beneficial to publishers, vendors, Another development to track is Overdrive’s directly with publishers, obtains eBook rights and libraries. For example, the American announcement in the summer of 2013 that they to distribute, and delivers these eBooks to its Library Association sponsors the Digital will provide streaming video on its platform. patrons via a DCL-maintained platform. By Content Working Group. Part of the charge When ready, this service could be an affordable owning and maintaining the eBooks, the DCL of this group is to “explore, analyze and share alternative for providing films to patrons on a model allows the library to re-capture its mis- information on various options for expanding user-friendly platform. sion to preserve the cultural and print heritage access to digital content for libraries and the There are some limitations to these eBook of its community. public and for overcoming legal, technologi- lending platforms that you will also need to Rochelle Logan, in her article “Working cal, policy and economic barriers to equitable consider. First, is limited, if it is avail- Directly with Publishers: Lessons Learned,” access.”9 Readersfirst.org is another advoca- able at all. These eBooks are meant to be read talks about the benefits and difficultiesDouglas cy group, describing itself as a “movement to online or on a tablet/reader. Second, adopting County Libraries have had working directly improve eBook access and services for public a new technology means staff training will be with publishers.7 First, not all publishers library users.”10 The movement focuses on needed to allow public service providers to are the same, and though the Big Six did not providing ideal characteristics for e-content support the variety of e-readers these lending work with DCL, they found many small- to distribution services (like eBook lending platforms utilize. Third, though the content medium-sized presses to work with DCL. platforms) that will create a user-friendly is popular, it is a limited selection and not all Second, there are potential savings working eBook borrowing experience. In their draft of your popular and juvenile literature needs with publishers, who are often willing to give document, ReadersFirst Content Access Re- will be satisfied by any one eBook lender. up to 45% off retail price to DCL. Addition- quirements, this group articulates the ideal Fourth, if you want to avoid de-duplication, ally, directly dealing with publisher bypasses for a number of categories like metadata, it will take work to synchronize your eBook a distributor’s markup, offering opportunities customization and administrative features, lending program with your print profile. Fifth, for additional savings. The downside, though, patron , and ease-of-use that would eBooks on these lending platforms are not is that bypassing distributors means that DCL make any eBook lending platform more user cross-searchable, so a user cannot trace the use must work with publishers unfamiliar with and library friendly.11 of a word or phrase within these eBooks as you MARC records and the many ways libraries For now, academic libraries are not major can on a publisher- or aggregator-based eBook make eBooks accessible to readers. licensors for eBook lending platforms. But platform. And finally, you may have to decide When a library can provide eBooks to this could change as content grows and/or as whether or not to include the public and alumni patrons, this creates new possibilities in its libraries become distributors of content. In access to these eBooks. Base prices for main- relationship with third-party vendors and the research environment, the success of the tenance fees are often based on the number of with its patrons. For example, DCL recently LexisNexis could pave the patrons you are serving. By limiting access announced that it is working with OdiloTID way for University Presses to place content to eBooks, you can cut costs. However, by to handle its locally managed eBook collec- on eBook lending platforms, allowing patrons excluding access to alumni and the public you tion. Unlike other eBook lending platforms, to access materials in their preferred format are excluding this segment of your population OdiloTID is not a content provider. Instead, at their point of need. Growing demand from to a potentially popular program. this company provides the technology that academic libraries could also spur publishers No eBook lending platform is the same, allows libraries to manage eBooks and pro- to place more academic content on eBook and the following are things to consider when vide access to them. Jamie (James) Larue, lending platforms. Through purchasing power, selecting a vendor. First, content and availability director of Douglas County Libraries, argues advocacy groups, and their relationships with differ among the eBook platforms. For example, in his article “Wanna Write a Good One?” that publishers, academic libraries can help shape Overdrive provides the most eBook titles of any the “infrastructure to manage eBooks directly the future of eBook lending platforms into a eBook lending platform. Overdrive also has from publishers . . . [is] the same infrastructure model that is beneficial for all. the most academic clients of the eBook lending [that] allows it to be a publisher.”8 LaRue platform providers. And though eBook leasing then ponders a world in which the library Acknowledgements prices vary a little from platform to platform, recruits content from that can then be The would like to thank the fol- annual administrative and hosting fees can. distributed on a library platform. This pub- lowing for taking time to discuss their eBook Freading is the exception, as they provide lication model could provide an alternative lending platform and/or their experiences: libraries with tokens which patrons may use to the Big Six publishers for authors to reach David Burleigh (Overdrive); Tom Mercer to checkout material. It operates similar to a their audience. (3M); Nicole Ojeda (MyiLibrary); Rodrigo patron-driven acquisition model for libraries. Even without competition from libraries as Rodriguez (Odilo); Deana Sparling (Lex- eBook lending platforms are also developing publishers, the world of the Big Six publishers, isNexis); and Katie Wesolek (Utah State). API (Application programming interface) inte- and their stance on eBooks in public libraries, gration, which would allow patrons to check out is in flux. For example,Penguin and Random “Digital Content Working Group: Charge.” and place holds from the library catalog. If this House finalized their merger. Interestingly, ala.org. Accessed July 3, 2013. http://www. feature is important for your library, then be sure both publishers had different stances with ala.org/groups/committees/special/ala-dcwg to ask each eBook vendor what the timetable is respect to eBooks. Penguin charges a fair for API integration and if your ILS or library price for eBooks, but these eBooks expire one Douglas County Libraries. “Douglas catalog will be compatible for this integration. year after purchase; charges County Libraries Report: Pricing Comparison Comparing e-reader apps will also be important, up to three times the list price per eBook with as of July 1, 2013.” Last modified July 1, for outside of Overdrive, none work with the no expiration date. Simon & Schuster is now 2013. http://evoke.cvlsites.org/files/2013/07/ Kindle e-ink reader and each reading app used experimenting with eBook lending in a limited DCL-Pricing-Comparison-7-1-13. by the vendors has different functions.6 target area, New York City. Now that the Big continued on page 26 24 Against the Grain / December 2013 - January 2014 State Library of Kansas. The Big 6 – eB- ic Library.” No Shelf Required 2: Use and eBook Lending Platforms ooks in Libraries. Accessed August 20, 2013. Management of Electronic Books. Edited by from page 24 https://www.facebook.com/thebig6ebooks Sue Polanka (Chicago: American Library Thomas, Lisa Carlucci. “Making Sense Association, 2012), 61-70. “Introducing LexisNexis Digital Library...,” of Change: E-books, Access and the Academ- LexisNexis.com. Accessed July 3, 2013. http:// www.lexisnexis.com/ebooks/lending/ LaRue, James. “Wanna Write a Good One?: Library as Publisher.” American Li- Endnotes braries: E-content Supplement to June 2013 1. “National Federation of the Blind Honors Baker & Taylor’s Axis 360 Platform,” (2013): 18-21. baker-taylor.com, last modified July 25, 2012, http://www.baker-taylor.com/viewnews.cfm?press_ id=320&typ=c. Logan, Rochelle. “Working Directly with 2. Andrew Revelle and Sue Polanka, “Reading Transformed by the Mobility of E-books,” in The Publishers: Lessons Learned.” American Li- Handheld Library: Mobile Technology and the Librarian, eds. Thomas A. Peters and Lori Bell braries: E-content Supplement to June 2013 (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2013), 116. (2013): 8-11. 3. “Introducing LexisNexis Digital Library...,” LexisNexis.com. Accessed July 3, 2013. http:// “National Federation of the Blind Honors www.lexisnexis.com/ebooks/lending/ Baker & Taylor’s Axis 360 Digital Media 4. Lisa Carlucci Thomas, “Making Sense of Change: E-books, Access and the Academic Library,” Platform.” baker-taylor.com. Last modified in No Shelf Required 2: Use and Management of Electronic Books, ed. Sue Polanka (Chicago: July 25, 2012, http://www.baker-taylor.com/ American Library Association, 2012), 62. viewnews.cfm?press_id=320&typ=c. 5. Douglas County Libraries, “Douglas County Libraries Report: Pricing Comparison as of July “ReadersFirst.” ReadersFirst.org. Ac- 1, 2013,” last modified July 1, 2013, http://evoke.cvlsites.org/files/2013/07/DCL-Pricing-Compar- cessed Aug 20, 2013. http://readersfirst.org/ ison-7-1-13.pdf. “ReadersFirst Content Access Requirements 6. For a valuable comparison of eBook platform content and technical specifications, see 3 [DRAFT],” ReadersFirst.org. Accessed Au- in Mirela Roncevic, E-book Platforms for Libraries (Chicago: ALA TechSource, 2013). gust 20, 2013. http://readersfirst.org/Reader- 7. Rochelle Logan, “Working Directly with Publishers: Lessons Learned,” American Libraries: sFirst-Content-Access-Requirements.pdf E-content Supplement to June 2013 (2013): 8-11. Revelle, Andrew and Sue Polanka. 8. James LaRue, “Wanna Write a Good One?: Library as Publisher,” American Libraries: E-content “Reading Transformed by the Mobility of Supplement to June 2013 (2013): 18. E-books.” The Handheld Library: Mobile 9. “Digital Content Working Group: Charge,” ala.org, accessed July 3, 2013, http://www.ala.org/ Technology and the Librarian. Edited by groups/committees/special/ala-dcwg. Thomas A. Peters and Lori Bell (Santa Bar- 10. “ReadersFirst,” ReadersFirst.org, accessed Aug 20, 2013, http://readersfirst.org/. bara: ABC-CLIO, 2013), 109-118. 11. “ReadersFirst Content Access Requirements [DRAFT],” ReadersFirst.org, accessed August 20, Roncevic, Mirela. E-book Platforms for 2013, http://readersfirst.org/ReadersFirst-Content-Access-Requirements.pdf. Libraries. (Chicago: ALA TechSource, 2013).

And Nancy introduced me to her col- Guess everyone at the Charleston Con- Rumors league, Teddy Gray in Collection Develop- ference this year noticed that Bill Hannay, from page 20 ment at Duke. the singing lawyer, was absent. Well, he had Speaking more of columnists, we are hap- a good excuse — open heart surgery on five Really? We will miss Bob and hope that he py to have the awesome Glenda Alvin join- valves I am told. But, fear not, Bill is alive will have second thoughts in the meantime! ing the crew (this issue, p.66)! Glenda just and well and performing plays in Chicago Many thanks to you, Bob, for your years of celebrated her 60th birthday with Bettie Page for his law office. And in his spare time Bill work for ATG! and classmate/co-worker, Bernice Collins at pens a legally speaking column or two (see Other updates on ATG columnists! Did I the London Tea Room in downtown St. Louis. this issue, p.41). tell you that Dennis Brunning has been ap- See pictures on Glenda’s Facebook timeline! I met so many new people in Charleston pointed the Interim Head, Architecture and Another new columnist we have lined up is this year. One was Charles Lyons , scholarly Design Library at Arizona State University. the incredible Matthew Ismail who is writing communications and electronic resources Dennis who is the Subject Librarian for the a new marketing academic libraries column librarian, University of Buffalo. By con- Arts will begin this assignment on January 6, which will premier in the next issue of ATG. sequence, Charles is the brother-in-law 2014. It is very hard to keep up with Dennis! Did you know that Matthew is quite the au- of Simon Andrews, a chef at the Francis Leila Salisbury and Alex Holzman are thor/publisher on Amazon? Besides Wallis continued on page 43 both doing a great job of keeping us informed Budge: Magic and Mummies in London and about university press goings-on. Unfortu- Cairo by Matthew Ismail and Julian Reade, nately for us, Alex is retiring in March. : ( there are many other reads which you can get Sprite The glorious Nancy Gibbs is packing up on your Kindle. My glorious goddess of the night, the last few things in her office and retiring! Yet another, the energetic Joyce Dix- You eclipse me with a dark delight. Hasn’t it been great having her with us first on-Fyle is celebrating 14 years at DePauw You haunt me like a wicked wight. at North Carolina State and then at Duke! University! Wow! Congrats, Joyce. She is truly a marvelous, intelligent, caring Standing statuesque in the lucid light, Speaking of university presses, was inter- colleague. Nancy’s home email is and cell number is 919- Everything pure within my sight. American Historical Association statement 818-1958. Nancy will be living in Apex, on embargoes and dissertations (see this issue, My heart is chaste, my thoughts are white NC (the peak of good living). Plus she says p.52). I hear the discussions about disserta- But, my love, you are a spirited sprite she might be a mentor at the next Charleston tions getting published in tenure meetings at And alas I’ve set you to fearful flight. Conference! Just like Ginny Gilbert and the College of Charleston all the time. And Julie Arnheim and Mary Marshall. Sandy Thatcher has mentioned this more — James Nicholas than once in his columns.

26 Against the Grain / December 2013 - January 2014