Paul- how is this altruism? You are suggesting an investment strategy. It sounds like an American model- ‘we’re giving stuff away, but we expect something back.’ Why does that seems self-serving and completely anti-thetical to a spirit of charity?

Perhaps it could work this – think Wedding Gift register. Your library publishes a list of ebook titles it wishes to acquire and individuals sign-up to indicate which one they have or are willing to buy on behalf of the library. The purchaser has first dibs on the book but since it was purchased on behlf of the library it he can hand it over (avoiding the licensing issue). In recognition of this act, and recognising that Altruism works best when given a dose of Realism, for each subsequent lending of the e-book to another patron the original purchaser recieves a small royalty type payment (upto say, 1.2 times the original cost of the e-book) – Library’s get the content they and own the licence, the reader has his book (and the costs covered plus some) and the costs are covered by wide patronage meaning no-one takes a big hit but all get to feel good about it.

How about this crazy idea? The library can “lend” a DRM-free copy every 3 weeks (or whatever the lending period is). (Perhaps mark the book in some way to indicate that it came from the library on such-and-such a date.) The incentive to purchase more books comes from the need to lend more frequently. There is no expensive infrastructure required, the system is more useful to the readers, and it is really easy to purchase books for the library (or contribute your own).

Of course there are flaws. One could argue that this system wouldn’t work well for reference books, but it should work well for novels. It’s also going to be nearly impossible to convince publishers that this system is in their best interests.

Steve Jordan wrote:
Yes, the problem is there. But I think it would be better solved by the libraries’ working out a new purchase and distribution system that is more amenable to the realities of e-books. Roger, your idea sounds like 20th century “one physical book” thinking, when we need more 21st century “multiple-instance e-document” thinking.

Since I agree we need more such thinking, I see that I have been careless in adopting a pose of reasonableness.

While publishers and authors insist that one book purchase means only-one-person-reading-at-a-time, then I would like to let other readers benefit from my outlay for some books.

Since there are no ways to lend titles from one individual to another, nor any means to transfer ebook-title ownership temporarily or permanently, I can’t lend my ebooks or give them away at all.

At present.

How libraries lend ebooks with such inane restrictions placed upon them, I don’t know. But if they’ll appeal to my Age of Reality altruism (“happy to help, so long as it doesn’t cost me anything”), then maybe the gift-book technique can be adapted to deal with the situation temporarily.

Because right now there’s absolutely no way for me to buy a book and read it and also pass it along to a library.

Sure, I could give cash, but the reason I’m willing to buy the book in the first place is I’m ready to read it now. I’m just suggesting a way to align the library’s interests and my own, without first having to beat the publishers into submission.

Roger S

I think it’s a great idea. I hate buying a book, reading it, hating it, and feeling like I’ve wasted my money. Another reason I go for free ebooks. I’d be more inclined to buy if I thought others might also enjoy it. I’d feel my money was better spent.

Yes, the problem is there. But I think it would be better solved by the libraries’ working out a new purchase and distribution system that is more amenable to the realities of e-books. Roger, your idea sounds like 20th century “one physical book” thinking, when we need more 21st century “multiple-instance e-document” thinking.

Instead it seems to me that this should be up to the libraries who would have to create programs to allow you to donate to the library the amount the library needs to put the book into their distribution list, assuming that it is available in the first place.

Thanks,
David

If I remember correctly Netlibrary charges its libraries hard cover price of the book + 9% per year.

It’s not a one-time payment.