Last month, we reported that Amazon had agreed to allow public libraries to lend e-books for its popular Kindle e-reader. Now Amazon has gone a step further, bypassing libraries and allowing Amazon Prime subscribers to borrow books for their Kindles directly from Amazon. Naturally, this has produced a wide range of reactions.
Users Happy; Authors, Publishers Not So Much
Amazon Prime subscribers who own Kindles, of course, have no reason to be anything other than thrilled with this arrangement. In addition to receiving free two-day shipping on any order and streaming of movies and TV shows, subscribers can now borrow e-books for their Kindles without any increase in the Prime program’s $79 yearly fee.1 This lending benefit only applies, however, to users who actually own Kindle devices—Kindle apps on other devices are not eligible.2
Others, though, aren’t quite as excited about Amazon’s announcement. Among them are publishers and authors, who seem unsure of how Amazon will compensate them when subscribers borrow their e-book titles.3 This confusion has led each of the “big six” publishing houses to withhold their titles from the lending program, forcing Amazon to draw heavily from titles they’ve published themselves as well as from self-published titles.⁴ Thus, this program may offer exposure to authors and titles that otherwise may have struggled to find it. And if it proves successful, you can expect Amazon and publishers to find some common ground and expand the program.4
Effect on Libraries
That being the case, some have wondered what this program will mean for libraries. As with much of the e-book revolution, some are calling this a “death knell” for libraries.5 And, as with all those other pronouncements, the kindest thing you can say is that it’s premature. As we already mentioned, without the big six publishers on board, the selection of titles available is very limited. There are currently just 5,463 titles available for borrowing by Prime members.6
Also, the Prime subscription currently allows members to borrow just one book per month.7 That’s certainly not going to be enough to satisfy hardcore library users. Nor do those pessimistic about libraries’ future consider all the other items, services, and intangibles that public libraries have to offer. Not to mention that using the library is completely free! (Well, as long as you bring your items back on time, that is.)
What Do You Think?
It seems from here that libraries are safe from Amazon’s lending service, but what do you think? Have you heard comments from library users who own Kindles about e-book availability through the library or from Amazon itself? Let us know in the comments section below.
1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime/
2 http://mashable.com/2011/11/03/amazonlending-library/
3 http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/amazons_lending_library_raises_publisher_and_author_hackles/
4 http://www.forbes.com/sites/benzingainsights/2011/11/03/will-amazons-lending-library-help-or-hurt-novelists-and-book-publishers/
5 http://staugustine.com/opinions/2011-11-08/letter-e-books-will-challenge-future-public-libraries#.TsaBElZ-SfS
6 http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_browse-b_mrr_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_85%3A2470955011%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A618073011&bbn=283155&ie=UTF8&qid=1320670642&rnid=618072011?tag=publishmarket-20
7 http://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/the-amazon-lending-library-is-not-the-library-apocalypse/
Showing posts with label Kindle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kindle. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Amazon Announces Kindles in Libraries
Recently, retail giant Amazon announced that e-books for its highly popular Kindle e-reader would be available for lending from public libraries across the United States.1 Let’s take a look at what this means for libraries and how libraries are reacting.
The Good
First and foremost, this is good news for library patrons. The Kindle is the most popular e-reading device, and, with the announcement of the new Kindle Fire, is sure to only grow in popularity.2 As such, many patrons have been looking for the ability to borrow Kindle books from the library. “We used to get so many calls” about Kindle books, said Rachelle Miller, director of the Troy-Miami County Library in Ohio. “Now they can download books.”3
While e-books have been available previously, they were incompatible with the Kindle, and syncing them to another device requires a USB cable. Kindle e-books are downloaded wirelessly. Furthermore, e-books borrowed on other devices are only available on that device, whereas Kindle books can also be read on patrons’ smartphones, tablets, or computers with Kindle apps. When switching between devices, Kindle books will even remember the user’s stopping point and allow them to pick up where they left off.4
Kindle books also allow readers to make “margin notes,” something that is frowned upon in standard, physical books checked out from the library. These notes will not be visible to other patrons who check out the same Kindle book; they will, however, be saved if that user should check the book out again, or if they purchase the book from Amazon.5
The Bad
And therein lies the rub. Patrons checking out Kindle books must have an Amazon.com account and complete their lending transaction at the Amazon website, which enables Amazon to pitch other books, not to mention all the other products they offer.6 And since patrons can check Kindle books out from the web, this may dissuade some patrons from actually visiting their library if all they want are Kindle books, which negates the benefits of a visit to the library, such as browsing and interaction.
There may also be some confusion for patrons, especially as the service first rolls out, as not all books will be available for Kindle lending, even if Kindle versions are available for purchase.7 So librarians at participating libraries should be prepared to answer questions about why certain books are available and others are not—especially if those books are offered in other e-book formats.
Reactions
As this news has just come out, it’s not surprising that reactions from librarians have been mixed. While many see the positives that Kindle lending has to offer, there are still a number of questions that remain to be answered. Overdrive, which manages the program, has tried to answer a number of those questions with a blog post about what Kindle lending means for libraries. Other questions remain that pertain directly to Amazon, including what sort of data they’ll collect from this program and how they’ll use it; concerned libraries will have to keep pressing Amazon for answers on those.8
And what can libraries do to get Kindle users physically into the library? The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, Wisconsin now offers a number of iPads that patrons can check out; perhaps other libraries will consider lending Kindles to patrons now that Kindle books are available to them.9 That’s just one option, and there’s no doubt that librarians will continue to come up with creative ways to get new and existing patrons to come through the doors.
What Do You Think?
Is your library one of the 11,000 participating in the Kindle book lending program? What are the benefits and downsides? How will you keep Kindle users coming to the library? We’d love to hear your thoughts on these questions and Kindle lending in general. Let us know in the comments section below.
1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_200127470_ksupport_library?nodeId=200747550
2 http://www.geekblog.net/the-ereader-popularity-contest-is-won-by-the-kindle-not-the-iphone/
3 http://tdn-net.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=118197&SectionID=152&SubSectionID=255&S=1
4 http://venturebeat.com/2011/09/21/amazon-kindle-library-lending/
5 http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2011/09/21/21readwriteweb-amazon-turns-your-local-library-into-retail-84783.html?ref=technology
6 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2016323413_kindle_library_lending_questio.html
7 http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/libraries/article/48778-kindle-library-lending-goes-live.html
8 http://libraryrenewal.org/2011/05/11/library-ebooks-coming-soon-to-amazon-kindle-but-at-what-cost/
9 http://mashable.com/2011/09/23/library-ipad/
The Good
First and foremost, this is good news for library patrons. The Kindle is the most popular e-reading device, and, with the announcement of the new Kindle Fire, is sure to only grow in popularity.2 As such, many patrons have been looking for the ability to borrow Kindle books from the library. “We used to get so many calls” about Kindle books, said Rachelle Miller, director of the Troy-Miami County Library in Ohio. “Now they can download books.”3
While e-books have been available previously, they were incompatible with the Kindle, and syncing them to another device requires a USB cable. Kindle e-books are downloaded wirelessly. Furthermore, e-books borrowed on other devices are only available on that device, whereas Kindle books can also be read on patrons’ smartphones, tablets, or computers with Kindle apps. When switching between devices, Kindle books will even remember the user’s stopping point and allow them to pick up where they left off.4
Kindle books also allow readers to make “margin notes,” something that is frowned upon in standard, physical books checked out from the library. These notes will not be visible to other patrons who check out the same Kindle book; they will, however, be saved if that user should check the book out again, or if they purchase the book from Amazon.5
The Bad
And therein lies the rub. Patrons checking out Kindle books must have an Amazon.com account and complete their lending transaction at the Amazon website, which enables Amazon to pitch other books, not to mention all the other products they offer.6 And since patrons can check Kindle books out from the web, this may dissuade some patrons from actually visiting their library if all they want are Kindle books, which negates the benefits of a visit to the library, such as browsing and interaction.
There may also be some confusion for patrons, especially as the service first rolls out, as not all books will be available for Kindle lending, even if Kindle versions are available for purchase.7 So librarians at participating libraries should be prepared to answer questions about why certain books are available and others are not—especially if those books are offered in other e-book formats.
Reactions
As this news has just come out, it’s not surprising that reactions from librarians have been mixed. While many see the positives that Kindle lending has to offer, there are still a number of questions that remain to be answered. Overdrive, which manages the program, has tried to answer a number of those questions with a blog post about what Kindle lending means for libraries. Other questions remain that pertain directly to Amazon, including what sort of data they’ll collect from this program and how they’ll use it; concerned libraries will have to keep pressing Amazon for answers on those.8
And what can libraries do to get Kindle users physically into the library? The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, Wisconsin now offers a number of iPads that patrons can check out; perhaps other libraries will consider lending Kindles to patrons now that Kindle books are available to them.9 That’s just one option, and there’s no doubt that librarians will continue to come up with creative ways to get new and existing patrons to come through the doors.
What Do You Think?
Is your library one of the 11,000 participating in the Kindle book lending program? What are the benefits and downsides? How will you keep Kindle users coming to the library? We’d love to hear your thoughts on these questions and Kindle lending in general. Let us know in the comments section below.
1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_200127470_ksupport_library?nodeId=200747550
2 http://www.geekblog.net/the-ereader-popularity-contest-is-won-by-the-kindle-not-the-iphone/
3 http://tdn-net.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=118197&SectionID=152&SubSectionID=255&S=1
4 http://venturebeat.com/2011/09/21/amazon-kindle-library-lending/
5 http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2011/09/21/21readwriteweb-amazon-turns-your-local-library-into-retail-84783.html?ref=technology
6 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2016323413_kindle_library_lending_questio.html
7 http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/libraries/article/48778-kindle-library-lending-goes-live.html
8 http://libraryrenewal.org/2011/05/11/library-ebooks-coming-soon-to-amazon-kindle-but-at-what-cost/
9 http://mashable.com/2011/09/23/library-ipad/
Monday, July 26, 2010
Kindle Sales Stats in Context
Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, recently released a statement announcing that sales of Kindle eBooks surpassed hardcover sales during the first half of 2010.
The statement touts the following facts:
For example, it is not clear which titles consumers are buying as book selections vary between formats. A large percentage of eBooks for sale at Amazon.com have never been published in hardcover format. Romance novels, which account for a large number of Kindle eBook sales, are generally published as paperbacks. Additionally, readers who already own hardcover books from powerhouse authors may be purchasing their old favorites in the eBook format. Furthermore, Amazon’s consumers are immediately more inclined to purchase eBooks over those who prefer brick-and-mortar stores or other online venues as Amazon “attracts an online audience that is more inclined to be early adopters of new reading technology” (Gonzales, 2010).
However, even as eBooks are gaining ground over hardcover on Amazon.com, print editions of books are still far from losing their major place in the market. According to the American Publishers Association, industry-wide sales for print book editions are up, with hardcover books up 22% year-to-date and adult paperbacks up 16%¹. And according to Sarah Weinman at the Daily Finance (as cited by Gonzales), on average, eBooks make up for less than 1% of any given title’s total sales². For example, Gonzales cites Publishers Lunch stating that James Patterson has sold 1.14 million e-books to date worldwide. Of those, 867,881 were Kindle eBooks. However, in comparison to the more than 205 million print copies sold, Kindle eBooks only account for roughly 0.4% of overall sales³. Looking beyond Amazon’s press release, it’s clear that largely consumers still purchase print books.
As Gonzales shows, companies—via press releases and reports—can selectively share data to shape public perceptions and thus support their sales goals. Luckily, the continuing dominance of print books allows ample time for libraries to research and develop digital platforms before altering their core format preferences.
What do you think of Amazon’s recent press release? What research has your library done on eBooks? What is your library doing with the new format?
Additional Reading
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/43948-hardcovers-safe-for-now.html
¹ http://www.publishers.org/main/PressCenter/Archicves/2010_July/MayStatsPressRelease2010.htm
² http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-20011038-82.html
³ http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2010/ebook-vs-hardcover-beyond-the-headlines/
The statement touts the following facts:
- Over the past three months, for every 100 hardcover books Amazon.com has sold, it has sold 143 Kindle books.
- In the past month, for every 100 hardcover books Amazon.com has sold, it has sold 180 Kindle books.
- Charlaine Harris, Stieg Larsson, Stephenie Meyer, James Patterson, and Nora Roberts have each sold more than 500,000 Kindle books.
For example, it is not clear which titles consumers are buying as book selections vary between formats. A large percentage of eBooks for sale at Amazon.com have never been published in hardcover format. Romance novels, which account for a large number of Kindle eBook sales, are generally published as paperbacks. Additionally, readers who already own hardcover books from powerhouse authors may be purchasing their old favorites in the eBook format. Furthermore, Amazon’s consumers are immediately more inclined to purchase eBooks over those who prefer brick-and-mortar stores or other online venues as Amazon “attracts an online audience that is more inclined to be early adopters of new reading technology” (Gonzales, 2010).
However, even as eBooks are gaining ground over hardcover on Amazon.com, print editions of books are still far from losing their major place in the market. According to the American Publishers Association, industry-wide sales for print book editions are up, with hardcover books up 22% year-to-date and adult paperbacks up 16%¹. And according to Sarah Weinman at the Daily Finance (as cited by Gonzales), on average, eBooks make up for less than 1% of any given title’s total sales². For example, Gonzales cites Publishers Lunch stating that James Patterson has sold 1.14 million e-books to date worldwide. Of those, 867,881 were Kindle eBooks. However, in comparison to the more than 205 million print copies sold, Kindle eBooks only account for roughly 0.4% of overall sales³. Looking beyond Amazon’s press release, it’s clear that largely consumers still purchase print books.
As Gonzales shows, companies—via press releases and reports—can selectively share data to shape public perceptions and thus support their sales goals. Luckily, the continuing dominance of print books allows ample time for libraries to research and develop digital platforms before altering their core format preferences.
What do you think of Amazon’s recent press release? What research has your library done on eBooks? What is your library doing with the new format?
Additional Reading
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/43948-hardcovers-safe-for-now.html
² http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-20011038-82.html
³ http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2010/ebook-vs-hardcover-beyond-the-headlines/
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