AnuradhaDec 22, 2024
kjaerulv

Same in Denmark - e-books are killing libaries and print -/not because better but because they take all the funds: "The high cost of e-books compared to physical copies makes it difficult for libraries to keep up with demand, Macintyre said.

Depending on the title, public libraries may pay two or three times more for an e-book than they pay for its print edition. In some cases, the e-book may be up to six times the price, librarians told CBC."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-library-e-books-queues-1.7414060?cmp=rss

'Astronomical' hold queues on year's top e-books frustrate readers, libraries | CBC News

More than 1,000 people are waiting to borrow the Ottawa Public Library's most popular e-book of 2024, and librarians say inflated prices and restrictive e-book publishing practices are responsible.

CBC
Dec 22, 2024 at 8:47amMastodon for Android
Show threadUriel FanelliDec 22, 2024

@Kjaerulv you know how sick and tired is the planet of this fucking amish song, where all progress is bad because is killing small business? So AI is bad, and e-book is bad, and e-commerce is bad, and car are bad... what are you doing here on the internet, you amish? Go back in your village, and enjoy the good old times, pls!

FUCK THE SMALL BUSINESS.

Show threadjohn lehetDec 22, 2024
@Kjaerulv I don’t know the precise economics of distribution, but as I understand it the channels of distribution for e and audiobooks in the US -- Libby and Hoopla -- also take a substantial cut of the money. I guess that is what it is, since there is no publicly funded system to take this task on.
Show threadcode_monkDec 22, 2024
@Kjaerulv what's the rationale? it beggars belief
Show threadStuartBDec 22, 2024
@Kjaerulv
This something that has always confused me - a collection of digital bytes that has no physical, tangible existence can cost more than the equivalent lump of slices of dead tree that has actual, physical heft and has to be transported and stored.
How is this possible?