I won a prize from our library's summer reading program!

This morning I'm heading to our local library. It's first-come-first-served for those who've received prizes. I'll be able to have my pick of gift certificates! I hope the selection is good! I'd love to come home with a Barnes and Noble gift card!

Developments with regard to ebooks and library lending...

This economy has hit hard. Everywhere.

I am the mom of five kids. When my husband and I sat down last year to really investigate our budget I was stunned to realize how much money I was spending on reading. We lived in England from August 2007 to December 2009. Our budget allowed us to pretty much do as we pleased while we were living there; we were so blessed. In 2010, back in the US, after we analyzed our budget for the year I found that I was spending as much as $80 a month on books sometimes. That's a lot of money. I decided, on my own, that I would reel myself in to some degree.                                    I'll remark on my success with that at the end of this post.

For now, let's get on with the topic at hand:

Ebooks and Library Lending

The propagation of digital books appeared to be the miraculous incarnation of eternal life for literature.


Then Harper Collins realized that there was an avenue that could be exploited.
The decided to limit the number of times an ebook could be lent.


HarperCollinsEBookRestrictions


At first thought, this seems reasonable...
A physical book will eventually wear out.


But how soon?
I began to wonder about actual statistics on this and decided to look for some real answers.
I found this wonderful video, created by two librarians. It substantiates that traditional books really do last longer than you'd have ever imagined. I know I'm amazed.


ChallengingHarperCollinsRestrictions


I no longer feel that Harper Collins' restriction holds water.
America's libraries do so much to aid in the education of our people.
I'll tell you that I don't generally support the raising of taxes in America. This country was originally created because of taxation without representation and so it boggles my mind that we've allowed ourselves to be taxed so heavily. One type of tax that I will always consider though is taxes that allow for library expansion ad renovation...
~~~
Now...I ask you...isn't that depressing?


And so, what can we do about this situation?


OpenLetterToHarperCollins


If you would like to contact HarperCollins directly, they have set up an email address:


Library.eBook@HARPERCOLLINS.com


Honestly, I do believe that publishers may experience a decrease in revenue due to the creation of ebooks and the quickly increasing population of ereader owners. I know that the cost of ebooks is actually a lot higher than I think many were led to believe they would be. I know it's caused me to recently decide that I'd like to find a way to analyze the cost of popular ebooks over time. I have a belief that as the initial popularity of a book slowly decreases, the price will also.


Perhaps this is a legitimate situation in which an independent agency should evaluate the market to determine how best to keep publishers, writers, and libraries in business...as well as making it possible for individuals, like me, to still afford to read.


Now...back to my personal success in lowering my reading-related expenses...


I've read 22 books so far this year.



3 were downloaded from Gutenberg
2 were books bought in 2010 
1 was borrowed from my sister
6  were borrowed from the library
4 were previous purchases
1 was a previous ebook purchase
5 were library ebooks
22

50 books a year prescribed for 11 yr olds.

See the whole article here:


http://tinyurl.com/Independents50BookListFor11s


My thoughts?


First, I think it is important to realize that this article was written by a British journalist. The five people who were approached to create the list of 50 books are all British. Therefore, the titles are overwhelmingly British also.


In theory, it's a great idea. The books I recognized from that list are pretty meaty though, in prose or length. Remember, some kids get little homework, others have loads each night. That doesn't even take into consideration social activities such as church or scouting. What about sports? Just because kids may not read 50 books a year or they aren't reading at that high a level, it does not necessarily mean they are not using their time well.


Of course I'd love for it to be a reality that 11 year olds would read 50 books such as these every year. I see it as more of a reality for homeschooled kids (and we've homeschooled so I've been there and know the reality of homeschooling vs public schools).


Three of our five kids really enjoy reading. Two will likely continue to prove to be prolific in their reading. One of them is dying to have an ereader and that will likely further encourage his joy of reading. Our youngest already owns a child's ereader:


Our Initial Impression of the VReader < click here


VReader and extra memory < click here


I have also signed our kids up with accounts at www.librarything.com where they can track and review their reading.


The article mentions the unfortunate closure of libraries too.
Can any country really hope their kids will read if we close libraries? (Especially with the current economy?)


I am intrigued by the list. I had surgery this week and am recovering so my body is telling me I need to take a break now and take a nap. I will be returning to the list though to take a deeper look at it myself. I may read some of the selections myself! I haven't heard of some of them.



As for our kids, I will continue to encourage them to read. I've told them I will always find money for books if they ask me to buy them. I try to make our house a comfortable place to read and I often read to or with our kids. I'll keep doing that. Of course I want them to read a lot but I don't want them to focus on the number of books they read more than the benefit or pleasure they receive from reading.


I'm just happy when they read and that they tend to enjoy reading.

Kindle is going to begin supporting library borrowing like NOOK.

There is good news for owners of Kindle ereaders or those considering a purchase.

Http://Tinyurl.com/LibraryUseViaKindle

I am particularly intrigued by the functionality they are designing in that the bookmarks and highlights and notations that users make I'm borrowed books will be accessible by the user if the book is borrowed again or subsequently purchased. I make many notations as I read. If Ivrun out of time with a library book my NOOK loses my notations, highlights, and bookmarks. If I borrow the book again, they are no longer there; they've been lost.

I find this an intriguing advance. Amazon/Kindle is listening to the users of ereaders!