I understand HarperCollins point from a business perspective. Essentially they want us to have to buy a new book after 25 circs. Realistically, most pop fiction books are pretty well used up after that many circs, and we’d be buying a new copy if it was something we wanted to keep around. In my opinion there aren’t that many non-fiction titles that even achieve 25 circs during a reasonable period of time before they’re just plain out of date. So I don’t think they’re that far off in their numbers. Their whole problem is that e-Books don’t wear out like paper books.
As a Librarian I hate that any publisher would stoop to that level of anti-library activity. As it is now if we can somehow keep a copy in circulation with 100 circs then we do, as long as it remains popular, relevant, and in good condition. In the real world where I work, that’s mighty tough to do in most cases.
They’re wrong, but not unreasonably wrong. Remember the old Div-x DVDS that expired after they were played a few times. A reasonable idea from the publisher’s perspective, but not one that worked for the consumer, and they died in the free marketplace. In this case as in that old one, the market economy will ultimately decide.
Just my thoughts,
Mike
Monday, February 28, 2011
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