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How popular have e-books and ebook readers and apps become? Consider this: ebook checkouts from the Siouxland Libraries increased 201 percent over the course of 2011. Meanwhile, the number of electronic materials went up 139 percent from 2010 to 2011.
The figures are rather stunning. Last January, the first complete month of use by those who received ereaders for Christmas, 1,690 e-books were checked out. Last month, before a new and likely larger round of ereader gift-giving, there were 5,240 checked out. That accounted for 16 percent of the e-books checked out the entire year. Who knows what this month’s figures will show?
This isn’t a unique situation. Demand at major public libraries has doubled since December 1, 2011. In fact, it is to the point that demand exceeds supply. That may also be the case here. At the time this post was written, there were 4,277 e-books available through the library. (In comparison, the Chicago Public Library has 6,443.) Of those, less than half were currently available to be checked out. I’m guessing the “hold” list for some of the more popular books is lengthy, even though the default lending period is 14 days. (You can get info on ebook check outs here.)
These statistics, though, undoubtedly underestimate the demand that might otherwise exist. The fact is that even though some publishers (Scribner, Putnam and Simon and Schuster, for example) release print and electronic versions of new books, they won’t provide borrowing licenses to libraries or withhold them for newly published titles. HarperCollins, meanwhile, restricts library licenses to 26 loans of a single book title. And in November, Penguin USA announced it was going to withhold the supply of new digital titles to US libraries.
This means libraries are somewhat caught in the middle. There is explosive demand from patrons but limits imposed by publishers. Throw in the budget constraints libraries are facing and it will be a while before this all sorts out. Still, there’s no doubt e-books are in libraries to stay (says a guy who also would have said the good old card catalog would be around forever).
The survival of libraries will depend on their ability to take advantage of ebook technologies to deliver new kinds of value, even as competition arises in the delivery of their traditional services.
Eric Hellman, “Libraries, Ebooks, and Competition”
Last year I read nearly 150 books, with fiction (74) slightly exceeding nonfiction (67). In the latter category, about one third of the books were biographies or autobiographies. So how did I do in voting for the National Book Critics Circle awards? Once again an 0-fer in the finalists in four main categories: fiction, biography and autobiography. Not only that, I didn’t read any of the 20 books making the list in those categories (although I have two on my Nook).
Only one book I read made the finalist list, and it also happens to be one I voted for. Out of the Vinyl Deeps: Ellen Willis on Rock Music is one of the five finalists in the Criticism category. Yet it isn’t really new. It is a collection of articles she wrote as pop music critic for The New Yorker in the late ’60s and ’70s.
I consider myself relatively well read. Perhaps I am wrong. My record in voting for the NBCC finalists (a process in which my vote actually means little or nothing) is dismal — and that’s being kind. I prefer to think, though, that rather than having no taste in books, the NBCC and similar awards reflect the views of a certain close-knit group. Call them literary elites, if you want, but ultimately it seems that “quality,” whatever that means, is dictated from a NYC publishing house viewpoint.
Now I’m not panning any of the finalists and certainly don’t have a right to since I haven’t read any of them. But it still strikes me as odd that you can probably count on one hand the number of books I’ve voted for in my five years as a member that made the finalist list. Maybe I truly am just an ignorant illiterati who wouldn’t know a good book if it hit him upside the head with a two-by-four.
The bottom line is that, in the end, cultural relevancy is decided by the public, not by critics[.]
Jason Pinter, “Death of the Literati”
Interesting Reading in the Interweb Tubes
- Torturer’s Apprentice (“… the [Bush] administration’s threshold for when an act of torture begins was the point at which the Inquisition stipulated that it must stop.”)
- 10 Reasons The U.S. Is No Longer The Land Of The Free (“Since 9/11, we have created the very government the framers feared: a government with sweeping and largely unchecked powers resting on the hope that they will be used wisely.”)
Blog Headline of the Week
Blog Line of the Week
Bookish Linkage
Nonbookish Linkage
Bot Comment of the Week
- “This magnificent phrase is necessary just by the way” (entirety of January 14 comment to my post on my favorite books of 2011)
Part of me suspects that I’m a loser and the other part of me thinks I’m God Almighty.
John Lennon, Playboy interview, September 1980
Bob Mercer put it well: “A newswoman like no other.” That was the headline of his blog post today in which I learned Tena Haraldson is leaving her position as the Associated Press bureau chief for the Dakotas and Nebraska. Tena probably is a 35-year veteran of AP. I’m proud to say I’ve known her longer than that.
We went to journalism school together (in different graduating classes), worked on the SDSU Collegian together and covered the state Capitol together (for competing wire services). We go back to the days when you wrote news stories on typewriters and there were teletypes pounding away in the news or press room. Regardless of whether we were cooperating or competing, Tena always was (and still is) the epitome of class and professionalism. Her intelligence, commitment and experience gave readers greater insight into the issues she covered and undoubtedly helped train dozens of younger reporters.
Tena treats everyone with respect while still striving for the goal of good journalists — to inform and educate the public in a fair and objective way about events that affect our lives. It’s a trait that’s disappearing in our 24/7 digital news world. Sadly, she’s not the only good reporter I know who’s encountered the impact digital and social media have had on traditional media organizations and the ensuing “restructuring.” Moreover, each one who comes to mind is one I held in high regard.
How much do I admire and respect Tena and her talents? Even though it’s probably been a couple years since we’ve talked to or seen each other, upon reading she was leaving I immediately called her to express my surprise and regret. It’s not hyperbole when I say Tena is one of the best newswomen journalists I’ve had the pleasure to know. It was not only a pleasure to work with her, I have no doubt she made those of us who had that chance better reporters and better people. Hopefully, whatever comes next for her will still bring her abilities to bear for the public.
One of the great pressures we’re facing in journalism now is it’s a lot cheaper to hire thumb suckers and pundits and have talk shows on the air than actually have bureaus and reporters.
Walter Isaacson, Bill Moyers Reports, April 25, 2007
Remember my “nonresolution” to read what I want when I feel like it? Given that I posted it just 10 days ago, temptation has already reared its head. It sneakily arrived in the mailbox.
When I got home last night there were two catalogs from a major publishing house of forthcoming books on a number of its imprints. Talk about baiting the trap. I was proud of myself, though. Because requesting review copies pretty much dictates not only that I have to read a book but when, I tried to adhere to my nonresolution. It means, of course, that five books have been added to my library reserve list or my Amazon/B&N wishlists. And that was from just one catalog.
I still haven’t decided if I’m going to request review copies from the other catalog but those books come out later in the year, giving me time to ponder. This way if I want to read one of those five added books I can — when I want. It also means there isn’t the concomitant obligation to write a review, a process that takes time. It doesn’t mean none of the books will be reviewed, just that I may have more time to read what I want when I want.
I make no promises or forecasts for how long I can behave in like fashion with other offers.
Those who flee temptation generally leave a forwarding address.
Lane Olinghouse
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