Cleveland Public Library Readies E-book Downloads

rtphokie writes "C|Net is reporting that the Cleveland Public Library is making ebooks available. Sounds like the 1000 books in the system initially will feature more than just public domain titles including 'the latest from authors such as Michael Crichton, Clive Barker and Joyce Carol Oates.'" The article also mentions that "only a limited number of each eBook will be available, and after a preset number of days, the eBook will lock out the current reader so another patron can check it out." A good time to re-read The Right to Read.

Comments

Loss of revenue.

[Anand_S]

"...after a preset number of days, the eBook will lock out the current reader so another patron can check it out"

How are libraries going to cope with the loss of 50 cent overdue fees?

I have serious reservations

[Henry V .009]

Trying to make the digital world just like the real world doesn't work. Sure it would be great to check out e-books from the library. And it would be great to rent videos on the net. But in order to make it happen you have to take away freedoms.

You see, the internet is just information passing between computers over the phone lines (or what not). In order to get an ebook to you over the internet, that ebook needs to be copied. You cannot transfer a physical copy of something over the internet. Now, since duplication occurs, this falls under copyright.

But wait--what if we were to use technology to lock out the copy at one end, and only allow one user at a time to access the ebook? And after a period of time, technology locks out the information on the user's side? That would be just like a library correct?

No. Because in order to accomplish that, you need to take away a user's control over the information he possesses. This is taking away a fundamental right. In other words, you can make the digital world like the real world, but you can't make it the same. Sure, you open up a new business model or service. But on the other hand, you take away rights.

And that is exactly what a set-up like this can do. Luckily, in America, rights are protected, not business models.

But you can erode rights. A set-up like this comes along at first. Laws like the DMCA are passed to strengthen it. Hell, the DMCA is enough already. Suddenly renting digital information is possible.

And what if one year then, your college decides that it's cheaper to rent ebooks than have you buy real thing? Maybe they don't even publish the dead tree version anymore. Palladium and the DMCA lock out you out from real control of the information. In fact, the ebook manufacturer--given the ease of EULAs with this distribution system, might even decide to make a little more profit. After all who's to stop him? He makes you agree in the EULA not share the information you rent. Suddenly Stallman's vision of the future has come true. Brave new world, what not.

Re:mIRC

[Simon Field]

I am an author.

My latest book is coming out later this year in paper form, and will cost money.

The same book (actually bigger, since the publisher has asked to pare down the number of pages) is currently available on the web for free. It will continue to be on the web for free after the paper form is published. In fact, the web version is a significant part of the marketing of the paper version.

I will sell more paper versions by giving away the web version than I would if the web version were not available.

The web version of the book has been available in ever-growing form for about seven years now. I am constantly getting email asking if the paper version is available for sale. Those email inquiries alone (if they were actual sales) would make the book quite profitable.

The web and paper publishing are complementary (and the web version of the book is complimentary).

I suspect the same is true of music sharing on the net -- after all, it seems to be true of music sharing on the radio. Without hearing the music for free on the radio, I expect fewer CDs would be sold.

That's my opinion, and I'm taking it to the bank.

Duh

[skinfitz]

"only a limited number of each eBook will be available, and after a preset number of days, the eBook will lock out the current reader so another patron can check it out."

That must be one of the most idiotic things I have ever hear in my life. The whole point of a library is to provide books for people to read - not restrict access to them. They have multiple (physical) copies (which cost money) so that more than one person can read a book at the same time. The only reason that a physical copy is not purchased for every person who uses the library is due to cost - it would obviously not be feasible for the library. Now an electronic alternative is available that could service every reader simultaneously and what do they do? Cripple it.

Yet another classic example of a perfect use of technology being crippled in the name of greed.

I suppose I better start working on my auto-book-renew script.

Re:Duh

[Compuser]

If even one library freely gives away a book
in electronic form then anyone interested will
be able to download a read it. Sounds good?
Maybe, except that now all ineterested readers
can get the book for free and the author goes
hungry.
To date no good solution exists to entice
authors into creating and preserve freedom at the
same time. Street performer protocol and similar
things do work in some cases but only in
"niche" cases. For instance many authors have only
written one good work in their lives (e.g. Steinbeck).
They would starve with SPP. Many singers have had
one or two hits (e.g. Billy Ray Cyrus (sp?)). Those
guys would starve too. Worse, people would not go
to the trouble of creating stuff if they knew in
advance that they would have to sustain their
production over long stretches of time.

Here we go.. total control

[nurb432]

And you thought I was kidding about control of all information?

With this little trick, once people adjust to the idea will give people in power complete control of information.

Sure it will be cracked, but that wont help the common man that isn't capable of doing such a thing. Their entire view of the world, and history will be controlled.

It will take time, but this is the next logical step in the progression.

20 years ago if I told you people would be paying to listen to radio, or that you wouldn't be able to copy your music from your house to use in the car, possibly tossed in jail if you try..you would have laughed. Today the practice is pretty much accepted.