Why Ebooks Are Great for Libraries

Two weeks ago, I talked about reselling paper books. I'd meant to talk about e-books on the following Friday, but I lost track of everything as I tried to finalize the files for Hero De Facto so I could send them to my formatter.

So back to our original topic...

In general, you can't resell e-books like you can a paper book. Your e-book is essential software. If you read the Terms and Conditions of your retailer, you'd find out what you're actually buying is a license to use the software.

The issue of selling electronic files has been partially dealt with through litigation in the music industry and computer applications. However, that case law has yet to be applied to e-books. After seeing what happened with the music industry, many retailers and publishers slap on DRM (digital rights management software) to keep readers from making illegal copies.

What about your software backups then? Technically, you may not be allowed to do that on some e-books. After being in the IT industry myself, I'm a HUGE believer in backups, which is why I don't put DRM on my files. I also request that retailers don't use DRM on the e-books I publish.

DRM punishes legitimate buyers of e-books by not allowing them to make software backups. Nor does DRM actually prevent piracy. Guys, I've been out of IT for over twenty years, and I can crack most DRM'd files. For the record, I wouldn't on principle, but most pirates don't have any sense of ethics. DRM isn't going to stop them.

So what does this have to do with libraries?

With e-books, libraries can buy a book that will never fall apart. They won't have to spend their minimal funds having to replace a book some idiot patron defaced. Or stole.

Remember when I talked about authors I discovered through the library?

The same holds true whether you borrow a paper book or an e-book. However, I'm discovering more and more indies who are as short-sighted as trad publishers. They think they are being cheated for a library buying their e-book and then, in theory, allowing the e-book to be borrowed forever. The trad pubs put a timer on their e-books so the library can only loan a particular e-book X times before the library has to pay a new licensing fee.

Except the library won't be able to do to loan an indie e-book forever.

Why? Because our tech is changing so damn fast. People forget the Kindle and the iPhone were both introduced in 2007, only twelve years ago. My iPhone 4 is considered obsolete even though it's only five years old. Libraries will have to pay for new licensing when formats change.

Then there the issue that folks using the library may not have the money to buy an e-book. I used our county library like crazy when I was a poor student and an even poorer college graduate. Guys, I couldn't afford a freakin' TV! I depended on the library for my entertainment.

On the other hand, I still used the library when I did have disposable income. The library allowed me to try out several different series and authors. Then I'd buy the ones I wanted to re-read multiple times.

At a time when so many of my fellow writers bemoan the lack of discoverability, they ignore one of the easiest solutions--their local libraries. And the thing I really don't understand are the same writers who will GIVE AWAY thousands of e-books through Amazon are the same ones bitching about libraries not paying them for every copy borrowed.

If anyone can explain it to me, I'd like to hear it.

Second-Hand Sales and Libraries

I know I've talked about these subjects before, but they bear repeating. Each time a new round of baby writers enters the market they freak at seeing their paperbacks for sale at other bookstores.

Hell, even DH freaked out when he was perusing the internet a couple of years ago and saw my books for sale at a London bookshop's website.

First of all, did you hit the extended distribution button when you set up your books on Createspace and/or KDP Print? That means other bookstores can order your books to sell at their store. And yes, the proprietor can price your book however they desire. You already were paid when she ordered your book through Amazon at wholesale.

Now, let's say I bought your book through Amazon and read it, but it wasn't something to go on my keeper shelf. I can take it to my local used bookstore (if I had one nearby) and trade it for credit on another book I'd like to read. There's a legal tenet called First Sale Doctrine. The seller only gets the money for the sale of a physical object he/she makes. (This does not apply to e-books. I'll talk about that on Friday.)

The owner of the book does not have rights to the contents, but they have certain rights to the physical object. That means I can take it and resell it at a used bookstore. Or at my garage sale. Or I can even donate it to Goodwill or my local library.

That means the used bookstore can sell the physical book. (Psst: The used bookstore can even sell the used copy on Amazon!) The neighbor who bought my copy can sell it at her garage sale. Goodwill can sell it. And the local library can sell it. And this goes on and on until the physical book finds a permanent home or ends up in a landfill.

You, the writer, were not cheated. You got your money with the first sale.

Now, if you have your book in extended distribution, guess what? Not just bookstores can order your books, so can libraries! And unless you donated copies, the library paid for that physical copy. You got your money.

Here's the thing most new writers don't get: their books are out in the world where someone may find it in their hotel room or looking for someone new to try when they're on a limited budget. There's a ton of books on my keeper shelves that I discovered through the library when I was a kid. Books I loved so much I searched out and bought once I had a grown-up job.

Never underestimate alternative venues for readers to discover your work.

The Long and the Short of Writing through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited.

The KU drama continued over the course of the weekend. Once again, I'm flabbergasted by the rudeness and the shortsightedness of some of my fellow writers.

After the last eleven years, hell, out of the last fifty years, I shouldn't be surprised by human behavior. But I still am.

First of all, what works for someone else's career may not work for yours. Screaming at the person who notes that X works for him does nothing for either of you. If X doesn't work for you, that's fine. Turn around, walk away, and go do Y, which works for you. But X may work for someone else. You don't know about the third party, and you're not saving him by insisting that he do Y. Let the third party make that decision. Ask yourself this--do you really want the third party to scream at you the way you scream at the first person?

Then there's the argument of what's better--novels or short stories. Why is this even a question now?

For a long time under the 20th century publishing structure, a writer could sell novels to the big publishing houses or short stories to the magazines. There wasn't a whole lot of in between areas for things like novellas. Most of these strictures were based on the optimal return on investment for the paper the stories were printed on.

Now? With electronic publishing, the writer can write whatever length they please. Except now, I see a bunch of writers yelling at each other over who's getting screwed the worst over the recent reimbursement changes to KU?

There's one teensy problem with their analysis. They are equating "buy" reimbursement with "borrow" reimbursement.

WTF?

Under the pre-digital system, a library paid for a book ONCE. Patrons of the library could borrow it as many times as they wished. Likewise under the old system, the buyer bought the book ONCE, and she could read over and over again. Or trade it in at the used book shop. In none of these cases, did the original author see an additional penny of income.

Now? Now, we can get paid for nearly every borrow through Amazon, which is FANTASTIC! But it's also where the bitching comes in.

A lot of folks gamed KU 1.0 by only listing shorts and chopped up novels, so they received far more money for borrows than for sales. Now with KU 2.0, Amazon pays for pages read, which means if you don't write a damn good story, regardless of the length, the writers will be lucky to get a penny or two out of the deal.

Contrary to popular belief, this isn't about length, or getting screwed by a big company. It's about giving the reader a quality experience. Something I think a lot of my fellow writers have forgotten.

Stop Saying "I Can't Get into Libraries"

For the longest time in the U.S., the best method for reader discovery of books was the public library system. I'm not going to expound on Benjamin Franklin and his belief in an educated populace. You can find that on Wikipedia.

Unlike bookstores, libraries as a whole are very welcoming to most authors. Their whole purpose of existence is to promote reading. (If you think that is the purpose of a bookstore, I've got a clue you can buy. It'll cost you a piece of green paper with Mr. Franklin on it.)

What astounds me is the unreasonableness of both traditional publisher and indie publishers in regards to libraries. Traditional publishers charge libraries twice as much for hard cover editions with a special plastic slipcover that costs them a few cents. Plus, they expect with normal wear and tear, the library will replace the book every few years, so they count on a library paying hundreds of dollars for the same book.

However, e-books don't wear out. The traditional publishers are absolutely freaking over this fact. Some refuse to sell e-books.to libraries. Some sell with licensing limits. If you're a writer with a traditional publishing company, you may be fucked. Try to talk politely with your editor and give him or her the numbers they need to give to the money people to get your books before more eyeballs.

Then there's indie authors who stomp into a library and demand that they carry the author's books. The behavioral issues with bookstores I mentioned Wednesday apply to libraries as well. In other words, be nice and do your homework.

Some libraries will take paper donations; some won't If enough patrons request a certain book, the library will generally order it. But don't have your family and friends do this. It's just like having them give five-star ratings on Amazon. People will eventually catch on, and they will not be please with you.

Here's a caveat: Not all libraries have the wherewithal to go electronic. You have to remember libraries depend on government funding, donations, and fund raising sales. E-book infrastructure can be very expensive. Screaming at some poor librarian because she doesn't take e-books (yet) will only make you look bad.

Don't throw a hissy fit if a library doesn't carry erotica. Yes, it may be some self-righteous prick censoring your free speech. Or it may be the library's charter or bylaws prohibits certain content.

Which brings me to--know how your library system works! Which means do your research! Yes, I know I'm repeating myself, but I'm amazed how many people have no fucking clue of how their local government operates. If you want to make changes, get involved.Volunteer. Run for the Library Board of Directors.

All I ask is that you don't sit on your hands and whine. Most libraries are public affairs, which means citizens have a say. That doesn't mean bully your neighbors or threaten to to blow up the library because they won't carry your autobiography about your carnal love affair with your Dalmatian.

Want a hint? Just because your own small town library doesn't have electronic lending, that doesn't mean you cannot contact the bigger libraries around the country. Many, such as the Harris County Public Library (Houston, TX), are building their e-book section

If you're an indie writer, you need to think like a businessperson. No one's going to do this for you. Decide if it's worth your time to get your books into libraries. Like I said, it may get you tons of readers in the long run.