Discusses pricing, formats and subscription models of e-books and e-audiobooks for libraries.

1. Digital Subscriptions – Licensing, Pricing & Formats Kathy Petlewski Electronic Resources Librarian Plymouth District Library

2. eAudiobooks – wma(Windows Media Audio) most popular format for bestselling e-audiobooks on Overdrive. MP3 - Best for use with iPods and other Apple devices. No DRM, so many publishers are reluctant to release books in this format. Formats for Digital Subscriptions

3. eBooks – pdf(Portable Document Format) developed by Adobe Systems in 1993. Printed page acts like an image. EPUB (Electronic Publication) Designed for reflowable content. Newer format- especially good for e-readers & smartphones with changing text sizes. Formats for Digital Subscriptions

4. Always Available Collection Sets Unlimited, multi-user access Primarily non-fiction & grouped into subject areas Must be read online, limited printing. Normally an annual subscription Proquest’sebrary, Gale’s Virtual Library, EBSCO’s eBook sets, NetLibrary’s sets Subscription Models

5. Always Available Subscriptions Unlimited, multi-user access Some are read online only – Tumblebooks & Disney’s Digital Brower Storybooks (OverDrive.) Others may be downloaded – Blackstone Audiobooks (OverDrive) Normally an annual subscription Subscription Models

6. 1 license = 1 book = 1 user at a time Majority of OverDrive digital content uses this model. May be downloaded to computer and/or portable device. Includes both e-audiobooks and e-books Subscription Models

7. 1 license = 1 book = 1 user at a time (with a twist!) NetLibrary now has downloadable e-books for e-readers, both fiction & non-fiction as well as downloadable MP3’s for iPods and other devices *In order to purchase individual titles, you must also have an active subscription to one of their collections. Subscription Models

8. Collection Sets are normally priced by size of audience served. In an academic environment, by number of full time enrolled students. In a public library environment, in a variety of ways: Number of branches in system Number of cardholders Population served Pricing Models

9. 1 license = 1 book (Heartwood by Belva Plain) Amazon Hardcover edition: $16.22 Amazon Playaway edition: $59.99 Nook, Google or Kindle edition: $12.99 Audible Audio edition from Amazon: $23.95 Downloadabe MP3 from Barnes & Noble: $16.60 OverDrive EPUB format: $26.00 OverDrive WMA format: $76.00 Pricing Models

10. Michigan Digital Libraries Consortium Pay for each license (title) purchased. Duplicate license automatically purchased once request threshold has been reached. Pay for a subscription to “Always Available” Blackstone audiobooks. (50 per year) Annual maintenance fee divided equally among member libraries. Pricing Model for Overdrive

11. What will their 26 download limit mean to libraries? Wake-up call to all of us – reality of buying licenses vs. buying books. At what cost will libraries remain in the digital book market? Time to pull together to have meaningful discussions with publishers. In the News !! HarperCollins

12. One standard for e-books and one for e-readers. Format agnostic e-readers / audio devices. Licenses that are consistent. No more DRM !! In a Perfect World…