Happy Thursday, WG2E-Land!
Two days ago, I was a Guest Speaker for the Indiana Library Federation District Conference at Valparaiso University (gorgeous campus, btw), and WOW did we move mountains!!!
In a nutshell, I learned that…
Public Libraries would luuuvvv to add Indie Epubbed Books to their Catalogs
But…
At this time…
They have No Place to Purchase Them…for Great Prices and in the E-pub Format They Need!!!
I’m over the moon to announce that Public Libraries WILL NOT have this problem for long!!!
After a wonderful brainstorming session with them on Tuesday, with more meetings-of-the-minds to come…
The WG2E and The RG2E are Gonna Rock Public Library Readerships with a Revolutionary Partnership!!!
Here’s a little Sneak Peek at what we’re now in the process of creating…
We’re developing on Online Store via which Public Libraries can Purchase Indie Epub Books across all genres!!!
And yep…that means every one of you here at The WG2E will have the opportunity to have your superfab Indie Epubbed Books distributed (if they’re Free Ebooks) and/or sold to libraries via our Store!!!
Yes, Libraries can buy from sites like OverDrive and 3M Cloud Library…and that’s what they’re now doing.
BUT
They can’t get Indie Ebooks from there…and they’re telling me they’re not using Smashwords nor Baker & Taylor as sources either. Not sure why…
WHAT PUBLIC LIBRARIES WANT AND NEED IS ONE SITE FROM WHICH THEY CAN PURCHASE ALL-GENRES OF INDIE EPUB BOOKS!!!
SO THAT’S WHAT THE WG2E AND RG2E WILL BE DEVELOPING!!!
That way, they don’t have to continue paying $7.99 to $22.95 for Ebooks…they are infuriated by that!!!
Seriously…can you believe, in some cases, they’re paying $22.95 for an Ebook?!
But they simply have no other resource to use, without the complicated muddy water issues of credits, returns and limited use licenses the other sites cause them because of their heavy emphasis on TradiPubbed Ebooks.
Now then…Public Libraries do need to each determine better systems for delivery of Ebooks to their patrons, and they’re all working on that at a feverish pace…whether they go to a Subscription Service or continue with totally Free is still being discussed.
BUT
The key issue is…
Public Libraries have NEVER NOT wanted to carry Indie Epubbed Books (contrary to what Big Six Industry Peeps tell us)…
They simply still don’t have a one-stop shop in which to get ‘em!!!
They can’t deal with thousands of us individually.
They can’t read all of our blogs individually and order from each of us from each of our own stores.
BUT
If we gave ‘em one superfab fun, all-in-one, shop, they’d buy bunches!
Can you imagine how many Ebooks they could buy at our Indie Prices to equal just one they’re now buying at $22.95?!
I wish y’all could have seen their faces when I said our Indie Epubbed Books mostly fell in a range from FREE to $2.99!!! LOL! 
So here we go, WG2E-Land…our next Sales Avenue is here!!!
Here’s what I’m thinking now, and of course, I’d luuuvvv y’all’s input:
1. The WG2E and RG2E Online Store would feature all-genres of Ebooks
2. We’d offer a royalty rate of approximately 70% (and that could go up even further…depends on how much this will cost me and my team to create, run and constantly upgrade this new business). And that rate would not be dependent on your pricing point. All books would get the same royalty percentage. But, we would cap the price at $4.99 for a single title and $7.99 for a Boxed Set.
3. We’re not Publishers, we’re simply an Online Ebook Distributor of Indie Epub Books
4. Libraries would then buy directly from our store.
5. We’d pay-out royalties using the same systems KDP and PubIt do…monthly (two months in arrears…so what you receive in April would be from February sales)
6. We’d distribute in E-pub and Mobi formats
7. You’d simply send us your Cover, Descriptions, Pricing Info and Files (just like you would to KDP and PubIt) and we’d upload ‘em to the store.
8. Of course we’ll have all the legal agreements you’d sign-off on just like at KDP and PubIt.
9. And you could ask for your Ebooks to be taken out of the program at any time.
10. You would also maintain all rights to your work. Again…we’re just acting as a one-stop distributor so Public Libraries can find all of us and buy us very easily.
Public Libraries WANT TO BUY OUR INDIE EPUBBED BOOKS…BUT THEY NEED ONE CENTRALIZED PLACE TO DO SO…WE’VE GOTTA FILL THAT VOID!!!
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: Brainstorm with us and our Public Library Partners…how do you see this kind of arrangement working? What problems do you think could occur? What are the benefits you envision from this kind of partnership?
The Best of The WG2E and RG2E Public Library Partnership Wishes — D. D. Scott
P.S. We’d run the store from our RG2E Site because that’s where all our Readers are now hangin’, and the Libraries would then have access to our EOTD (Ebooks of The Day). We’d actually Ebook Gift the Libraries too!!! Plus, they’d be able to send their patrons to our site for their own Ebook Gifts and superfab fun content too! We’ll also be starting an Ereader Giveaway Program for each of the Libraries buying from our store! So their patrons will have a chance to win an Ereader each month too!
Wow, you’ve done it again another big feather in the indie pub hat! thanks DD.
U betchya, Lois!
I was totally flabbergasted after meeting with all of the wonderful Library Peeps! I had NO idea they didn’t have a one-stop-shop in which to buy Indie Ebooks! I thought Smashwords was doing that and OverDrive…but evidently not anymore…not for Indies!
This is just a huge HUGE void that we’ve gotta fill! Many readers rely on their libraries to discover new authors THEN they begin buying the books by the authors they’ve learned to love.
I’m a library manager in Chesapeake, VA and have to say this sounds fantastic! I’ve just launched a project in my library called ePublish or Bust (www.epublishorbust.com), and our goal is to start a revolution to transform libraries into hubs for indie authors. We are planning to provide resources for authors to create their works, get them into our catalog more quickly (where your idea would be great), and help authors promote their works.
Libraries constitute a nationwide publicity tool, and it’s high time for them to embrace indie authors (I’ve always done so in our programs, and it’s been a wonderful experience). In my mind it’s the next phase of reader’s advisory, as librarians can play a major role in making their patrons aware of all the great things coming out in the indie field. In my mind change is good, and there has never been a more exciting time in libraries where so much potential exists!
WooHooo, Jim!
You have me Happy Dancin’ all over my office!
Terrific!!!
I was just sooo blown away during my presentation Tuesday to our Indiana Librarians! I simply had no idea that y’all had no Go-To site for Indie Epub Books!
You and your library have got to be one of our Beta Test Sites when our Store Launches! I’ll definitely be in touch with you!
Cheers to you and thanks sooo very much for your input!!!
And Welcome to The WG2E and to The RG2E Public Library Partnership!!!
Wow. What great ideas!!! “Transforming libraries into hubs for Indie authors . . .” Wouldn’t that be interesting?!!
You guys have found a niche which needs to be filled. Thanks for putting the work into this.
Isn’t this just over the moon exciting, Gail?!
Because of superfab librarians, like Jim, we can make this partnership totally work!!!
Glad you all are as excited as I am! Amazon and online outlets have their role to play, but there’s something special about being able to connect authors and readers in a more personal way. There’s a library in just about every community out there, and in the next phase of our history libraries are about connecting people.
I think there are a LOT of superfab librarians out there, it just takes a few of us to take the first steps and light the way forward (I strongly second that woo-hoo : )
Jim, which library are you at? Central? Greenbrier? I grew up riding my bike to the Greenbrier branch… my parents still live in Alexandria. Small world.
I know there’s been major problems for Chespeake with Overdrive..
I’m at Central, it is definitely a small world : )
The Overdrive situation, and eBooks in general have been challenging. I think the big problem is that things are changing rapidly, and everyone from publishers to authors to libraries are trying figure out what it all means and how to cope. Dynamic situations like this often produce quick reactions, rather than thoughtful, well-planned responses, which of course is a recipe for frustration.
I think things are getting a little better now because conversations are starting to happen on all fronts, and there’s a better understanding about the perspectives and needs of the various parties. For my part I’m always about embracing the positives of change, and that’s what my program is all about. D.D.’s concept is another great example of focusing on the positives, and connecting in a way that benefits everyone . . . which these awesome new technologies make possible!
MAJOR kudos to you for taking this on DeeDee!!! Your energy and productivity continue to astound me! I wonder, however, if county/state libraries differ in their attitudes across the country? A fan from California wanted my books in her local library for friends to check out, and when she contacted them. I offered to donate the books if the library would put them on their shelves. The response from the library was guarded at best. They said they could take the books, but couldn’t guarantee that they would end up on the shelves since there was a system of approving books based on reviews, “public need,” and other factors – none of which was cost. Basically, they said, you can donate the books, but the chance that they’ll just end up on our sale table (not on the shelves) is high. I hope more libraries are as excited as yours!! I will follow this one closely and am willing to help any way I can, by the way.
This is one of the things that most amazed me about my meeting, Karen…as far as Indie Ebooks go, these librarians are telling me (and the Library world is actually very small as they all are very tight and well-connected across the country and internationally now online) that they really WANT to increase their Ebook Catalogs with Indie Epub Books!
They know Ebooks are their last chance at survive and thrive!
I’ll tell you what was most shocking…I gave them the well-known industry stat that “99% of TradiPub Authors sell less than 1000 books” thinking that would be a WOW to them…but they all knew that…DUH, I was a dunce…they know most of their books never leave the shelves! They get that stat loud and clear and already knew it was true!!!
When they heard what many of our Indie Epub Real Sales Numbers were they sooo wanted our books!!!
All this time, the TradiPubs have had us believing that Libraries don’t want our books because they’re not traditionally pubbed, and that’s not true! Libraries are open to anything, if it’s easy for them to buy ‘em all in one place and they’re in Ebook form and cheaper for them!
What they can’t do because they aren’t staffed to do it is deal with each author individually! That’s what I think you’re running into in your California experience!
Heck, I’ve know spoken as a Guest for my library three times now over the last two years and they still don’t carry my books!!! Why?! Because they have no place to get ‘em where they can buy tons of other books too!!!
The county I live in is small and poor. The library(s) is at the bottom of the budget. Sure we got a brand new one in one town. It’s beautiful. But it also looks like the Beverly Hillbillies moving their one room worth of furniture into a mansion. And there is a huge amount of the population that cannot or barely can read.
I have a book on order there, and when I go back to pick it up I plan to talk to them about this and see what their reaction is. I’d love some info to take and hand them when I do go. It would perhaps be an answer to their lack of books (people here donate books to the library) – a way to inexpensively purchase them!
Wonderful example, Jamie!
And that’s exactly why we’ll be Ebook Gifting the Libraries and their patrons using our RG2E store every day, using our RG2E Ebooks of The Day (EOTD) Program!
Also, this will be a fabulous additional way for y’all to do FREE Ebooks…can you imagine how many libraries – on a tight budget (which is almost all of ‘em now days and why I titled my presentation to them that way) – will try the first book in your series if it’s Free?! Then perhaps buy the rest?!
And if y’all would like a peek at the PowerPoint I used for my presentation, it’s available here:
http://bit.ly/IqYDE7
I did yesterday. Great presentation. . .I can just imagine it with you speaking. I luv, luv, luv power point!
Thanks Bunches, Jamie!
I have a ball with all of the animation you can do with ‘em!
My DH has these set-up so when I click then the list-style items, for example, come in one at a time, which is sooo much more workshop-friendly and give peeps time to take notes on each item.
Great idea, DeeDee. The problem the libraries have with publishers is usually the dispute with how many times you can have a book checked out before you pay again.Ebooks being easier to share. Are they just reading at the library? On their computers? Will each library be buying their own, or does the main library in a city have one and shares it? How does it work?
It appears that each Library System “does their own thing” as far as purchasing goes, Elizabeth, meaning sometimes the city’s Central Branch buys everything for their citywide catalog or countywide catalog and sometimes each branch has its own budget.
They do have HUGE issues with the TradiPubs on the number of licenses each purchased Ebook is allowed (in other words, how many times that file can be loaned-out before a new license must be purchased).
They’re beginning to use Online Catalogs in which their patrons will simply download the books they want from there. And that’s the other big issue they’re all working on now…the “THEN WHAT”…so, the patron has access to the file…can they then download it to an Ereader Device, and if so, how do we get the book “returned” to the library…or should we go to a Subscription Service, in which maybe the patrons can download so many books (and keep ‘em) for so much per month. Or set-up systems like Amazon where patrons can get a loan and then the file just disappears after so long (or is somehow blocked).
Libraries have two main issues with Ebooks right now: delivery to their patrons and one-stop-shopping to buy the Ebooks to begin with.
We’re going to solve the one-stop-shop part of it!
P.S. Most of of the Libraries do Audio Books too…Yayyy!!!
The issue is how do people return a library ebook with your system? Overdrive and the other systems are setup where the files expire. The only options with this system are the library distributes the ebook file, they have to have some mechanism for the file to be returned (A potentially costly undertaking) OR anyone who goes to the library and wants the ebook just gets the file for free.
Overdrive is a problem, they even have had issues with the contracts they have with the Big 6 over libraries that offer library cards to patrons outside their area of service (reciprocal cards). In my hometown, that’s a problem for my Mom. She visits both the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake libraries, but the same ebooks aren’t at both because Chesapeake offers reciprocal cards. Here in CT, all of the libraries in the state are one system.
I think you have a dilemma of delivery, unless you’re going with the files go to the library, and they distribute/copy as they see fit. Even that, they’d need a computer system that patrons could log into and download the files… (it could be as easy as setting up 1 computer as the ebook station with a USB to micro USB cord there)….
One benefit of the indies would be offering all file formats, PDF, epub, and .mobi at once, so patrons with ANY ereader could read the book. Also, I’d see about allowing authors to denote if they have a POD copy they’re willing to sell or donate so that patrons who don’t have an ereader can still check out the book in the normal way.
Great points, Elizabeth!
I was typing in about the Delivery Issue as you were…LOL!
We’re simply going to solve the one-stop-shop part of the equation and let each Library System use the delivery system that works best for them.
In other words, just like Libraries buy Print Copies and do with ‘em what they will, they’ll simply buy the Ebook Files from our store then get ‘em to their patrons using the system their branch uses for that.
That could require extra metadata for the files too, depending on if they already have a delivery system. Many libraries use ISBNs etc to help track books and files in their systems.
I would pick 1-3 libraries to BETA with, and a handful of authors, work out all of the kinks, then release the program far and wide.
Interestingly enough, the libraries don’t care about the ISBNs anymore…I was shocked by that!!!
And yes, we’ll definitely test the system for a bit before rolling it out on a large scale.
This is AMAZING D.D. Thank you so much for taking this on and getting it done, sister! You never fail to astound me in your dedication to the “indie cause.”
I’ve donated all of my books to several local libraries and have had readers get them into their local libraries for me, bought through Create Space. It was a hard sell at first, but once I could present them with a sell sheet (a professional looking document with my bio, the book cover, blurb, contact info, buy links, and a few reviews noted) they were much less skeptical and happy to add them to their shelves. I always get excited when I go into the local library and see that they’ve been checked out:-)
Making the books available for the Library’s e-reader program is brilliant and will definitely be a win for everyone! Thanks again!
U betchya, PJ!
And I actually recommended your superfab YA reads during my presentation! They asked me if I could get them a lot of Indie YAs in our store because that’s a hot market for them! I used you as an example!
Multicultural Romances and Mysteries, Chick Lit, Romantic Comedy, Mysteries/Thrillers were their other biggies. Urban Fantasy/Steampunk too!
And again, just like you brought up here…Libraries are much more likely to stock Ebooks if they have a one-stop-shop. They simply don’t have the time to personally work with each author, but yes, if they know your books are selling or you’re new and in with a bunch of authors who’s Ebooks are selling big, they’re more likely to try your books!
With our WG2E/RG2E Store, we’ll be able to combine all our Indie muscle and become a Go-To Source for Indie Ereads for Libraries who are figuring out how to become Ereading Destination Sites for their patrons!
Wow, D.D.! You’re seriously rocking it! Fabulous idea. I love it! My local library likes donated indie pubbed paperback books and sometimes will purchase them if they’re by a local author. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled with this BIG idea! Wow again!
Yayyy, Tamara! Luuuvvv that your local library would be thrilled with our new store too!!!
I haven’t decided about the Print Copies yet…but my gut says if y’all as authors want to do those donations to our library customers too that would be up to each of you on your own.
I want this store to be just about Indie Ebooks because that is the future for libraries, and that future is here now and they need help and resources to make the transition!!!
WOW! Where do I sign up? *g* I donate the the library conventions and various individual libraries every year so this is great news.
Seriously, figure out the “expires after check out date,” and you’ll be ready to rock!
The great part is, Joan…we don’t have to figure out the “expires” part…that would be up to each library who buys books from us.
If we all go into this with the idea that we’re opening up huge new sales avenues that we’d never have otherwise, that’s the HUGE plus for each of us.
The reason libraries don’t want to buy from the sites currently available and aren’t buying is because of these restricted license issues.
What if…
Out of the box here…
But what if…
Our store simply requires that they buy say 5 copies of each book then they can have unlimited licenses on ‘em say for so many years?
That’s 5 extra copies sold of each book for each of us, times hundreds if not thousands of libraries buying from us.
We have to look at this in very unique, out of the box ways.
We have no control over what happens to print copies in the TradiPub world and never have (i.e. used book stores, garage sales, etc.) Who knows how many times they’re each read? We just hope that whoever reads ‘em then goes and buys our next one and the next one…and so on. In this case, the libraries would be our come again readers/buyers.
Our goal is to get as many new readers as possible in as many new markets as possible.
We have NO MARKET now in Libraries…so, now, the goal is to open one…see how it goes then adjust from there.
So libraries buy a single “copy” they distribute as they see fit. The ebook advantage to them is that they can lend it to multiple patrons at once, but that is kind of a disadvantage to us as authors because there is never any motivation for a library to purchase another copy even if it is in high demand. Plus for all we know the patrons just keep the book forever. While I understand that getting our books out is a great opportunity, if there is no control over how the library manages the files then we could be going way beyond the traditional loaning system to literally giving away books forever. In a small library system that giveaway is not a big number, but say the NYC library system can get one copy of my book at $2.99 and then provide their entire population overlapping, online, unending access. Great for them, not so great for me as the author. What is the motivation of the library to put any limitation whatsoever on these files if we do not? I can’t think of one.
As a very small beginning author the exposure is probably good for me in any way I can get it so I’m not necessarily feeling negative, just trying to think out loud. Maybe my strategy would be to offer my first book in a series to libraries in the hope that it would drives sales of the later books to library patrons?
Great questions, Jill!
The Libraries I think will begin using Subscription Style Services where patrons will be allowed to download and read so many Ebooks each month let’s say, then either have to “return” the files, or the software will simply expire the file so it can’t be read anymore after a certain date.
My idea would be to require a library based on their circulation level to have to buy so many copies of one of our Ebooks but then not worry about how many times each of those files is “loaned” out.
This would be a guaranteed number of set sales then for each of our books, in a market we have absolutely no foot in now.
Wow, you have been busy over there. I would like to get myself known for my writing over there, so maybe this is one way to do this. I am trying to get myself known to libraries/librarians over here in the UK (well in my local area) for my writing for children, and soon adults, so they have my contacts, by giving them my postcards and business card if I remember. Still have a few to do.
U Go, Girl!
And the secret, Julie, is that by putting yourself in a large stable of Indie Epub Authors, with a one-stop-shop for libraries, you’ll be “visible” on a much larger scale and platform!
As always, D.D., you’re right out there on the cutting edge! Luuuved your presentation and this idea rocks! I do agree with Elizabeth and Joan and Jill — that some version of expiration/return needs to be part of the deal — maybe even part of the contract between your store and the library — so we don’t put ourselves out of business.
You are an inspiration, Girlfriend!
Glad you enjoyed my PowerPoint, Alicia! My DH just rocks it putting those together for me!!!
The Expiration Element is going to itself be a WIP (Work in Progress).
Part of being “cutting edge” is ya gotta be able to just try things then adjust accordingly as things work and/or don’t work.
I’ll know more about this after I have more meetings with my Library Peeps…we’re totally brainstorming this together, Y’All, and then givin’ it a whirl, which means we’ll do tons of tweaking as we go along.
Wow! What a wonderful & needed concept that you are working on, D.D.! If anyone can figure it out…….you can!
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jeanne!
I think this can work and in a HUGE way…but yeah, we’ll just have to keep trying new things and ideas with it till we get the right mix!!!
I self-published my book, A Sixties Story, in December 2010 through dog ear publishing. It’s listed with IndieBooks, Amazon, iBooks, etc. My e-book sells for $9.99 most places, but $4.99 is fine with me. I guess I would need to contact dog ear to figure out specifics. They have the e-book formatted in several e-formats–not sure about that. Keep me posted. This is a market I’ve never known how to get into. THANK YOU!
U betchya, Toni!
You would need to check with your publisher and check your contract with them to see if you have the rights to sell the book (and/or have it distributed) outside of their company.
GA library system is unique, to say the least. . .The libraries in the county I live are part of one library system in GA. It is not affiliated with the Atlanta system, which being this close to Atlanta you’d think they would.
When I went to order a book, luckily they found a copy within the system or else it would have cost me to have had it borrowed from Atlanta! Still taking a week and a half to get in any case.
This is another perfect example, Jamie, of why our store will NOT be doing anything but selling the Ebooks to each library.
Literally (pun intended), each Library and/or Library System works its own way.
We just want to provide them with a one-stop-shop in which to purchase Indie Epubbed Books for great prices and in all formats.
Fantastic news, Dee Dee! Please keep us posted on what we need to do.
U betchya I will, Chicki!
My vision is that each of you will simply email us your books, covers, price scoop and descriptions, and we’ll load ‘em into the store for ya.
We’ll of course have to have some type of contract so I’ll be working on that too.
But, the important thing is, y’all keep your rights to your books…our store will simply be a one-stop-shop distribution site for primarily libraries.
Just a reminder too that any of you using KDP Select then would not be able to be in our store during your Select Months because I think that would violate their exclusivity clause.
Sounds great. I’m in. Thanks for doing this.
Yayyy, Ty!
I think your books would be very popular with Library patrons!
I’m sure luuuvvvin’ Chop Suey! I’m reading it now!
First I want to say … WOW! Thank you so much for lobbying for all us Indies!
Now I’m going to give some thoughts I had about e-books and distribution and hope I don’t get slapped down. It’s only food for thought … not negativity.
I got a ‘nook’ for my birthday (finally … after refusing to buy one for myself because I like paper even though I’ve got a title out on e-book along with POD). Forever the tightwad that I am, I went to both Barnes & Noble, and then to Amazon, and downloaded more than 100 free e-books. Most of the Amazon ones I was able to convert to Nook using Calibre, a few not.
Now the author in me intends to thank each and every hard-working author whose title I downloaded by going to their author site and giving them a good, solid critical review as soon as I finish reading them, both on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads and now Amazon’s new library site. And if I read it … I will. I’ve always been good about that. I get a free book. They get a good review by someone who knows how to dissect a book. That’s the author in me…
Unfortunately … most of the reading public aren’t authors. They’re like the OTHER side of me who is just plain cheap. My family spent $100 on an e-reader. I want to fill it up with as many free titles as possible and read them when I have time. The Tightwad Tillie in me isn’t aware of how hard mid-list or beginning authors work to create these books or how desperate we are to be offering them on Amazon or B&N for $.99 cents or for free. Tightwad Tillie can pick up an entire shopping bag full of used paperback books at a yard sale for a buck. Tightwad Tillie thinks every author in the world can simply walk down to their nearest coffee shop, write a story about a wizard, and become a millionaire.
Tightwad Tillie only has so much time to read between work, family obligations, and other forms of entertainment. Because Tightwad is time-strapped, eventually shey’ll get around to reading some of those free e-books dumped onto their Kindle/Nook. But what Tightwad Tillie isn’t going to do is make a trip down to the local library to find a NEW libary book when Amazon is offering hundreds of brand-new free e-books every single day for free.
What’s good for me as an individual author … offering my book for free and not having that free book then disappear off the e-reader within a set period of time … either through Amazon, B&N, or a library loan program … is bad for authors as a group. With so much free content out there hanging around on Kindles and Nooks, why seek out a for-pay book or a book you have to drive someplace to get from ANY source?
In the international business community, we call this practice ‘dumping.’ You dump so much of a product onto the market, below the cost to produce it, that you shut down all your competitors. In this case, not only is Amazon competing with the Big-6, but they’re also competing with B&N-Nook and also libraries. What’s good for the consumer in the short term … getting something below cost … is bad for the industry as a whole.
Just my thoughts…
At some point, I believe Amazon is going to have to change it’s self-publish friendly business model and move towards a lending library system that has a ‘disappear after so many days’ system because I foresee the over-availability of content hurting their baseline business model (books for sale). Right now they’re trying to make Kindles ubiqitous and drown out other e-readers, so they’re going to keep catering to us Indies willing to give away our work. But at some time the gravy train HAS to end. It’s not a sustainable business model for them … or for us.
I believe libraries SHOULD be allowed to buy a single e-book through whatever service you end up with and loan that copy out as many times as they like, but there has to be some kind of constraints built into the purchasing agreement as to how it gets circulated and returned.
1. Buy 1 copy …. only loan out 1 copy at a time
2. Copy ‘expires’ the same way a paper book does
3. Must be some sort of agreement in place for a set penalty if they violate the terms of purchase, even if unenforceable. Most librarians aren’t Tightwad Tillies out to get something for nothing. Perhaps an ‘you will remit for that second (or third) copy you -should- have bought’ verbiage in the contract?
This is fabulous observation, Anna, and I’m sooo glad you shared it with us! Thank You!
I agree with you that because of Amazon’s KDP Select and the resulting huge glut of FREE Ebooks that peeps are not buying like they used to.
But what you and I and many other Ereaders are doing is waaay waaay ahead of what library patrons are doing…and we must keep that in mind.
For Library Readers, Ereading is still very new, if not non-existent, because libraries have not embraced it because they have no way to right now without paying the horrid Agency Model prices for their Ebooks.
That could of course all change with the DOJ filings and Amazon opening up to libraries soon.
But libraries want to use primarily E-Pub Files and they’re on huge budget crunches right now because of the economy.
And because there are a gazillion of us now Indie Epublishing, they need a one-stop-shop to find us in the formats they need.
But yeah, how we’re going to handle the Circulation and Loan Periods is gonna be very, very interesting and a bunch of trial and error.
I actually envision libraries like the next generation of Book Clubs, where you’ll pay so much per month and be able to download so many titles…whether you get to then keep them or you must return them is what’s up for grabs…
Don’t want to be doom-and-gloom … your idea excites me. Just pointing out there’s a ‘bubble’ that’s going to burst somewhere down the line. Whatever business model you cook up will need to take that into account. Your proposed service needs to compete NOW, with so much free content available. And it needs to compete LATER, once the bubble bursts.
Heck! I’d be willing to GIVE away my first fiction work in my series to libraries (with no strings whatsoever) in whatever e-reader format they want in the hopes a percentage of their patrons will actually read my work and build name-recognition to buy books 2-5 in the series. I’m sure there are lots of other newer authors on this site who feel the same way? Giving away my book (for free) to struggling libraries in all 50 states would be a fair tradeoff to build name recognition (given the alternative is investing $50,000/year in traditional marketing which might not work). Especially if my title is one of the first titles they make available to library patrons. Victory goes to the bold … and the swift.
Play hardball with Amazon playing their own game? Why not? Is any other author game?
We’ll definitely be doing a “first one is on me” program with our new store, Anna!
That’s how I’ve made it to the level I have because my first book is FREE across all platforms…I was one of the lucky ones who Amazon had already price-matched to FREE before KDP Select even started…and so far…they’ve kept it Free…and it’s now been downloaded over 150,000 times.
It was that strategy that has gotten me into all doors…and I plan to use that for all of us with libraries too!!!
But, you’re right, now I have to “D. D. Scott” ‘em and keep the ideas fresh and the “products” (our new store) great so they keep comin’ back to us for more!
No worries…you’ve got to get the bubbles blown and flyin’ through the air before they can burst…then, when they do, because someone always has a bigger and better wand, you just dip a wand back into the idea bottle and blow another!!!
I’m really excited by this prospect, DeeDee. The ball is rolling now; the rest is in the details. I’m going to keep a close watch on this because as soon as you post the sign up sheet, I’m there
Thanks Bunches, Kristine!
This project is really gonna be tough but sooo exciting too!
Tough because it’s literally something out of the box and entirely new to all parties involved – Indie Epub Authors, Librarians and Library Readers too!
Sooo exciting, though, because we have a wonderful opportunity to set the standard and grow as the process grows and evolves!!!
I live in a small coastal town in Oregon (pop. 9,000) but we have an amazing HUGE library that was built by the citizens. A few months ago they offered a workshop on “making the connection” to E-Books from the library system and the conference room was filled to capacity. Lots of interest. Lots.
The steps to access, though, were pretty overwhelming. I’m hoping the librarians will come up with something simpler! I would think accessing a library computer to download would be the easiest (and not “allowed” by the current system using Overdrive, which requires remote access and lots of set-up steps). Certainly you would also want remote accessibility as well as on-site.
The exposure of our names and our titles to the library crowd is positive (potential new readers!). And if we can pull our books from the sell site at any time, well, we can all certainly give it a try and monitor if a bump in sales seems to result (from library readers seeking out our other titles after they’ve fallen in love with us!). I agree it will be difficult to monitor…maybe impossible. I guess I am looking at it primarily as an exposure opportunity.
And, yes, authors will need to place close attention to e-pub contracts…in the future maybe add in a “library clause” to allow the e-book to be sold at the site for a “library price” — would this deal with the rules about “prices need to match everywhere” ?? Could this be handled with a “library exception,” maybe? Something else to consider when signing contracts or agreeing to Kindle/Nook publishing rules.
Again, major kudos for taking on this important niche that definitely needs filling!
Indeed, Janet, the response from the librarians sooo matches what you experienced in Oregon…readers will go totally gaga luuuvvv over a chance at getting Ebooks through their local libraries!!!
And, I’m totally with you, in that I’m looking at this as additional exposure and visibility too, although, I do think, if our system makes it easy for libraries our books and we help them find great systems to deliver the books to their patrons, we’ve struck GOLD!!!
It does appear that they have access to incredible, cutting edge software packages and online sites that will help them deliver the books, but they don’t have books to put into these systems yet because of the Agency Pricing Model.
That’s why they’re head over heels for us doing a one-stop-shop so they can try out these delivery systems using our great books at great prices!!!
Thanks Bunches for your input!!!
DD – you continue to AMAZE us! You are so savvy!
I’m not so sure it’s that I’m that savvy, Liz, although thanks bunches for the sweet comment, it’s just that I have the passion and then the balls to try something new.
Yep, I might not get it completely right the first time, but I’ve got the drive to keep building it and adapting it till it really becomes something terrific!!! And I’ve got the guts to at least try it!
I luuuvvv tossing out ideas then developing ‘em into something no one has yet seen!!!
This is so cool, what you are doing, D.D. You are truly paving the way to a fabulous future for Indie Epub Authors and library patrons. Hip Hip Horay!!!!!
Thanks sooo very much, Dean!
I sooo believe in each of you and what we can accomplish together, and I luuuvvv showin’ that in unique ways to the world!!!
I just want to add that I love our local library. It’s always full of people. I read most books just once so I am very pleased to be able to borrow and return books. This is a system which could never be funded these days and it is wonderful for people who don’t have big family budgets for books. However, when I find a book that I really love, I do actually purchase it. I know it’s important to support authors.
Perfect, Gail!
And that’s why we want to bring to libraries like yours our Ebooks and help you find your next fave authors!!!
Thanks sooo very much for sharing your terrific input with us!!!
I too was a HUGE library card maxed out kinda gal, and I know how valuable the communities they create and maintain are. I want to be a pioneer in bringing them right along with us in our new digital book world!!!
My local library has ebooks (though not, as far as I know, indie ones), but not in Kindle format, just epub. It’s incredibly irritating.
That is indeed one of our goals with this store, Miriam…to make the Ebooks available to libraries in all formats!!!
D.D.
I can’t add anything other than, I better get my book out there so you guys can…well…get my book out there.
What a marvelous thing you’re doing – what a great opportunity for authors, readers and libraries.
I’ll help in any way I can.
Mitzi
Yayyy, Mitzi! U Go, Girl!!!
And thanks for offering to help!
It will take all of us together to make this store work!!!
DD, this is FANTASTIC. Would love to know more, so I could sell it to the libraries up here in Canada. If you could, email me at vivi@vivianna.net.
Thanks
Tawny
aka Vivi Anna
Here we come Canada too, Tawny!!!
Of course we want to partner with y’all too!
Excellent! And thanks bunches for volunteering to work that avenue for us!
U rock!!!
Awesome, DD. You constantly amaze me with your forethought! I’m from Canada, so I wonder if future plans might include Canadian libraries?
U betchya Canadian Libraries will be included, Sheila!
And we’ve already got superfab WG2E Peeps volunteering to spread the word their too!!!
Y’all rock!
And thanks bunches for the sweet shout-out, my friend!!!
I’m so glad to hear that, DD. I’ll be watching for more news on this and will help spread the word!
Wow.
Just wow.
LOL…I said the same thing, David, when I stood there and heard those librarians saying “we’d luuuvvv to buy Indie Ebooks, but D. D., we don’t have anywhere to buy ‘em” and “we need one central place to find ‘em then buy ‘em”.
Total WOW for me too!!!
And a total call to action to fill that void!!!
Wonderful plan!
It’s hard to believe no one has offered a solution like this yet. Yay for sharing great books with the world!
That’s what it’s all about here at The WG2E, Karen…
Writers helping writers reach readers with great books for great prices!!!
Thank sooo much for your sweet comment!!!
#1 – wow!
#2 – haven’t had a chance to read the comments, where i usually get clarifications and more info, but, count me in!
#3 – the flat rate royalty rate is “about time”
thank you!
#4 – sent this to Digg : http://digg.com/news/business/the_wg2e_and_the_rg2e_are_rockin_readerships_with_a_revolutionary_indie_epub_author_and_public_library_partnership
#5 – i want more info! put me on the list!
fantastic move and idea d.d.
adan
Tickled to hear you’re “in” for this, Adan!
And thanks bunches for the Digg mention too!
U rock!!!
Serious non-fiction does not lend itself so easily to serialization. Nor to free. Nor to $4.99 (though $9.99 can work). Have you given any thought to how non-fiction fits your model?
Also, before getting too euphoric about FREE to libraries, consider that librarians generally expect their books to meet certain standards which (sadly) many free e-books just don’t meet. They rely on the tradi pubs to do that screening for them.
This is not a wet blanket, merely an observation based on experience.
I write “serious non-fiction” Ebooks too, Nan, and the $2.99-$4.99 non-fiction prices seem to be working great on Amazon and B&N! I know my Muse Therapy made it to the #1 Bestselling Amazon On-Writing Book and did so precisely because it was “serious non-fiction” at a great price!
And I also use a type of “Serialization” for my non-fiction via online classes on Yahoo Groups in which peeps pay again a very reasonable price to have weekly/daily lessons.
So these things can be done very successfully! Yayyy!!!
Using professional editors and professional formatters (which sadly enough many of the TradiPubs don’t use when it comes to the latter), makes Indie Epub Books perfect for libraries!!!
And as far as what libraries expect in Ebook standards, they’re basically clueless on that and still trying to figure that out! They truly know nothing about that…I asked them!!! They simply want to add Ebooks to their catalogs that are reader-friendly.
Great points, Nan, and thanks for sharing them!!! Cheers!!!