In the first significant revision to lending terms for ebook circulation, HarperCollins has announced that new titles licensed from library ebook vendors will be able to circulate only 26 times before the license expires. – Library Journal
Our system has belonged to a partnership through our local MLC that has allowed us to offer EBooks to our patrons the last couple of years. I have been on the selection committee. Back when we started, which wasn’t all that long ago, it was really all about audio. I can still remember the conversations when we were trying to decide between the various ebook formats being offered. Fortunately, Overdrive settled on the right choice, and was ready for the Christmas of 2009 when things really took off.
I emailed the news to the rest of the group members but I doubt I will hear much feedback this late on a Friday. I am sure we will have much to discuss very soon.
And that’s why libraries should just stop buying DRM media for their collections. Period. It’s unsafe at any speed. I mean it. When HarperCollins backs down and says, “Oh, no, sorry, we didn’t mean it, you can have unlimited ebook checkouts,” the libraries’ answers should be “Not good enough. We want DRM-free or nothing.” Stop buying DRM ebooks. – Cory Doctorow
One thing you can say for Cory: He is always consistent. But then, the Publishing Companies give him plenty to work with, too.
2 replies on “HarperCollins Overdrive”
cnLpen Good point. I hadn’t thouhgt about it quite that way. 🙂
You may be interested in this article by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes : Why e-book DRM will die, and why this will make no difference to Amazon and Apple
Try a few eBook from Aboutread
or eBook from Aboutread Canada, you will find that AudioBook or eAudio are still the most popular format available from libraries.