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Report says 28% of library patrons want e-books
August 2, 2012 | 12:38 am
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By Dan Eldridge
“According to the new Patron Profiles report from Library Journal and Bowker,” says Digital Book World, “28% of library patrons want to download e-books at their local libraries. That number increases when it comes to library patrons who also read e-books: nearly two-thirds of those want e-books available at their local libraries.”
For those of you who happen to be both library patrons and frequent readers of e-books, the Patron Profiles-commissioned report likely won’t come as a big surprise.
And yet while the supply of e-books at public libraries has certainly increased in response to growing borrower demand, the report is also clear on the fact that the supply hasn’t risen nearly fast enough. For that, we can thank the nervous middle-management publishing executives who are still struggling to understand the e-reading landscape.
Both Simon & Schuster and Macmillan, for instance—as the DBW article points out—forbid libraries from lending their electronic titles. But take a look at the following excerpt, also from the DBW article:
“There have been several studies that suggest that library patrons who borrow e-books also buy e-books. The most recent of which was a study conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life project which found that among people who borrow e-books from libraries, 41% bought their last e-book.
“If they borrow, they buy,” said [Patron Profiles series editor Rebecca] Miller, referring to the Pew study and others. “They discover books in the library. It’s true of e-books and print books.”
So, how about it? Have you ever purchased an e-book after first borrowing it from a library? If so, why? Let us know by leaving a comment.
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The above chart illustrates the report’s findings that e-books are in significantly higher demand by library patrons than any other form of downloadable media.
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Also Worth Reading:
- Does the future hold bookless libraries in store?
- Publishers and libraries still trying to work out e-book lending
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Comments:
I buy ebooks that my library cannot provide (because publisher won’t allow) or chooses not to purchase. I also buy ebooks when the print version can be borrowed but the print is too small for me to read. I buy ebooks sometimes for my book discussion group rather than borrowing. I hardly ever buy an ebook after borrowing the book (print or electronic) from the library.
I never buy the same e-book after borrowing it from the library, but then I don’t buy the same book after checking out the printed version either. On the other hand I have often bought another book from the same author; often knowing that the book may be available at the library.
This is simply a matter of convenience. I can buy e-books at home or may come across a printed version while book store browsing. I can buy the book without taking a trip to the library, having to wait for it on a hold list, or spending more time searching for it in the library system.
I buy books or e-books primarily based on the author, many of whom I was introduced to by my locale library. In other words I am far more likely to take a chance on an unknown author by checking out their work at the library. If I enjoy that book then there is a very good chance I will buy a book\e-book from that author in the future.
This survey isn’t worth the pixels and has absolutely no credibility whatsoever, like a lot of these crazy insider publishing surveys.
Ask people if they want something and people will say yes. A meaningless exercise. If they had asked them if they wanted a free ice cream with every book I’ll bet they would get 50% take up.
The Library association and Librarian associations are engaged in a desperate rear guard action to try to justify themselves as we transition to digital. I am certain, myself, that it is a losing cause but they are a powerful interest group fighting for their own self serving future. So anything is possible.