I've read the other views on this controversy and I have not changed my mind about my stand against this eBook policy.
A post by someone who is for the HarperCollins eBook policy stated that libraries who can't afford to purchase ebooks or don't want to pay again after the 26th circulation should only offer printed copies. I disagree with this statement because I don't think is up to libraries to decide whether to offer ebooks or not, is really up to their users and their demand. As Harper (2007) stated, "the distinction between a library and a digital library has all but disappeared." According to Harper, publishers do not believe that Section 109 for print works should apply to electronic works.
I feel like many things were not addressed prior to the implementation of this limitation in the electronic material. For example, some publishers have a lifetime warranty in some of their printed books so this kind of defeats HarperCollins thought on having libraries pay for another ebook after the 26 circulations. Also, technology is changing all the time, what is going to happen when the current digital formats for eBooks are no longer supported 10 years now? Will publishers provide libraries with free digital copies or have the libraries pay again?
Another issue I still have is this "26" limitation. I found a video posted by The Virtual Library of the Pioneer Library System, in which they randomly looked at some of their printed books to check their circulation. One of the books had been checked out 120 times and was still in great condition. This means that if this book was in electronic format, the library would have to pay 4.5 times for this particular book. To me, just doesn't make sense.
References
Harper, G. K. (2007). Copyright in the Library - The digital library. Retrieved August 03, 2016, from https://copyright.lib.utexas.edu/l-diglib.html
Pioneer Library System. (2011, March 2). HarperCollins 26+ checkouts. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Je90XRRrruM
A post by someone who is for the HarperCollins eBook policy stated that libraries who can't afford to purchase ebooks or don't want to pay again after the 26th circulation should only offer printed copies. I disagree with this statement because I don't think is up to libraries to decide whether to offer ebooks or not, is really up to their users and their demand. As Harper (2007) stated, "the distinction between a library and a digital library has all but disappeared." According to Harper, publishers do not believe that Section 109 for print works should apply to electronic works.
Another issue I still have is this "26" limitation. I found a video posted by The Virtual Library of the Pioneer Library System, in which they randomly looked at some of their printed books to check their circulation. One of the books had been checked out 120 times and was still in great condition. This means that if this book was in electronic format, the library would have to pay 4.5 times for this particular book. To me, just doesn't make sense.
References
Harper, G. K. (2007). Copyright in the Library - The digital library. Retrieved August 03, 2016, from https://copyright.lib.utexas.edu/l-diglib.html
Pioneer Library System. (2011, March 2). HarperCollins 26+ checkouts. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Je90XRRrruM
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