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November 13, 2011
If politicians won't pay for libraries, don't assume that publishers will
We see it time and again in the arguments in local councils in which councillors close libraries or reduce book funds- "but it's ok because reading is freely available on the internet in ebooks and on Kindle - or if it isn't now it soon will be"
Librarians - the profession- have ben saying that for years
But it ISN'T TRUE.
Publishers will not make ebooks freely available - why should they? At present 80% of publishers both here and in the US are refusing to supply the public library service through the various models that are currently available
Why should they give away content so that two thirds of reading can be free and authors of the works are not paid ? If polticians don't think free public libraries are a good idea - why should publishers and authors forego their livelihood ?
We know that people want bread to eat, but that doesn't mean we expect bakers to give two thirds of what they make away, for nothing.
There is a deal to do somewhere-- and common sense to be found - but no one at present is even looking for it
If Ministers have their heads buried someone somewhere has to start talking .. because reading is the at the root of our civilisation - and libraries are the potting sheds of integrity.
Posted by Perkins at November 13, 2011 2:58 PM