Ebooks - It's been a while since I griped

We have been working very hard at HPL on physical projects involving real shelves, books, and other stuff outside the Internet world.  I know!  Shocking, isn't it?

<rant>During that time I have been watching the "Big 6" publishers continue to treat libraries as their enemies in the ebook world.  And while I am sure that no one pays much attention to my little blog, let alone my rants, I feel remiss for not railing on a daily basis about this ridiculous state of affairs.

Honestly, where does Simon & Schuster think avid readers find out about new authors?  Where does Penguin or Hatchette think new authors get a try and then a following?  Who do they think spends 24/7 thinking of ways to get more people involved in more reading?  And I mean thinking of more ways to get EVERYBODY reading, regardless of means.  I love book stores.  Book stores do some of this.  But they have to stay alive by selling the most popular.  Who helps them with that?  They promote books and authors.  LIBRARIES promote reading and readers.  Apparently though, we're the enemy.  We're going to suck away the meager revenue stream from the big publishers.  Honestly, if that's what they believe, then they are the enemy of readers.

Ebooks "last forever", so how can we make libraries ever buy another copy?  Library patrons will just borrow the library copy whenever they want to read.  Hmm...why not ask us to work out a plan?  No?  You'd rather just turn books into licensed content and sell it and choke off any potential for growth?

Here's the crux of the problem (besides the lure of filthy lucre).  From ALA:

Why are e-books treated differently than print books?

As content migrates from physical to digital forms, the typical access model shifts from
purchasing to licensing. Digital music and online journals represent examples of this shift from the last few decades; e-books represent the latest form of content to make this transition. As licenses are contracts, libraries receive the rights articulated in the agreements. The usual ebook license with a publisher or distributor often constrains or altogether prohibits libraries from archiving and preserving content, making accommodations for people with disabilities, ensuring patron privacy, receiving donations of e-books, and selling e-books that libraries do not wish to retain.

They key is in that paragraph.  Control over the content (contract vs. purchase); the "purchaser" - you, me, a library, no longer "owns" that thing we thought we bought.  Thus, no one can loan it, resell it, or collect it.  But why is that ownership so important?  Collections like those created by libraries are important not just for preserving the past but for creating new ideas and inspiring new stories.  Writers and researchers create from what is available to them.

Too bad the big publishers won't work out a deal.  Libraries want to participate and are willing to pay to play.  Too bad they are so focused on preserving a possibly already-lost corner on the market.  That old chestnut about catching more flies with honey than vinegar is going to come back and bite them.  Libraries could help them flourish in the ebook age and I'd wager we as a group would strike a bargain on almost every issue in that quote above.  Will it happen?  I doubt it.  And everyone - you, me, authors, publishers, and libraries will be the poorer for it. </rant>

HPL QR codes

Otherwise known as "those boxes with the random-looking black-and-white pixel-y squares".  We thought it might be a good idea to let people know what sort of cool mobile tools we have here and that a good way to do it might be to make use of a method pretty much exclusive to smart phones - QR, or "Quick Response" codes.

These codes were originally developed for a specific industry, but as sometimes happens, its use spread far beyond the initial purpose.  Frequently used to direct shoppers to Internet URLs in order to put advertisements before them, retailers have used them for some time.  We thought it might be cool to use one to advertise our new library app, OWL.  OWL lets you browse our catalog and access your library account from your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.  The QR code above will take you to an informational page about OWL iLibrary and links to the Google Play store and the iTunes store.  The OWL app is free, so please download it and try it out!  You will need an HPL library card in order to log in (you only have to enter the number once).  If you do not have an HPL card, you can browse for your local library - they may have this nifty tool.

Android OWL screen

iPhone screen

Ebook Question

I have a simple question that, as often happens, has opened up a series of other questions.  My question is this:  "What ebook titles would our patrons like to have in the HPL ebook collection?"

This, of course led to: 

• "How will we collect that information?"
• "What method would be best to accumulate answers?"
• "How do we get the word out that we are seeking this information?"
• "What about residents who don't come in to the library?"

In fact, this set of questions could be asked about a number of our newest tools and many of our older ones.

We have some truly awesome yet under-utilized services at HPL, like:

• Real-time stock market data and a wealth of research information from Standard & Poors.
• A brand-new tool for learning a language - Transparent Language Online.
• A list of specialized research tools, many available outside the library.
• A weekly email newsletter that links you to all the new items added to the collection.
• Internet-accessible searching of our catalog AND the ability to log in to your library account.
• A beautiful app providing access to our catalog / your account in both Apple IOS and Android.

My original question, I guess, fits under the over-arching question of, "How do we most effectively communicate with our current and our potential user base?"  Please share your thoughts!

Food-for-Fines Awesomeness

Congratulations HPL patrons!  For those of you who took the opportunity to square up your account during our "Are You Prepared...?" Food for Fines program, you get the chance to feel doubly good about yourselves.

First, you squared away old fines, fees or other debts that might have been preventing you from using your library card.  I think that is wonderful because we have a fairly amazing set of resources here - not just books and DVDs - that a clean record will help you use.

Second, you collectively donated 1,100 lbs - that's right ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED POUNDS - of food to the Reno County Food Bank!  Pat yourselves on the back for a job well done.  100 lbs of food per day is a good amount.  But don't forget about them now that our promotion is over.  The food bank will be getting extra donations during the holiday season when everyone thinks about those in need.  Though in Hutchinson and Reno County, as in most places, the need is year-round.

Thank you for bringing in lost-but-found items, clearing up long-standing fines, and especially for helping make your community a better place!

NASA to the Rescue!

I am a space exploration nut.  I admit it.  I have long read about astronomy and love a good Hubble Space Telescope picture as much as the next guy.  I have also read a lot of science fiction and enjoy a good trip-to-an-alien-world story from time to time.

So of course, NASA is one of my favorite "things".  I have a little bit of a love/hate thing for NASA because I don't always agree with their priorities and I often think they do a terrible job of selling their biggest assets - wonder, imagination, and most of all, the future.

As you may or may not know, HPL has spent the past year promoting tongue-in-cheek style, a series of programs with the theme of the "end of the world".  Our "Are You Prepared?" series has featured useful self-help lunch and learn programs about disaster preparedness, growing your own food, and more.  We've been showing movies with apocalyptic themes every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.  We even started a science fiction book discussion group and spent our first year reading examples of apocalyptic fiction!  In fact, we'll be discussing A Hitchihiker's Guide to the Galaxy, our "final" novel before the end of the year, on December 6th at 6:30pm - please read it and join us if this sounds interesting!.

But back to NASA.  Our good friends at the space agency have a beyond 2012 answer page to assuage everyone's fears about the supposed end of the world.  Give it a look, it answers a huge number of the purported "end of the world" myths that seem to be swirling around.

The Big Shift

Every time I participate in a large collection shift, I say that it's the last time I'll ever do it.  Of course, it is always the last time until the next time!  So...

We are nearing completion on a major shift of our adult collection.  As it stood, the adult non-fiction collection was arranged with the 000s-600s and the 900s on the first floor with the 700s and 800s on the second floor.  In order to free up some floor space and to more logically arrange the collection, we are nearly finished moving the 900s upstairs.  The result is that it will be easier to describe where the non-fiction collection is shelved AND we will have more floor space on the first floor for arranging our public services.

Once we get some lighting upgrades in place on the second floor, we'll be able to regroup and see what is possible with all the free space.  For the time being, we'll add some seating.  The ultimate goal is to move our current computer lab, combine some service points and add services in the technology area such as individual device training sessions and expert help combining patron tools and gadgets with electronic library tools and services.

Author Visit!

NYT best-selling author Jennifer Chiaverini was here at HPL last night (Nov. 6).  Everyone, including the author said something to the effect of ... "Are you sure?  It's election night."  We said we were sure and when I arrived at 6pm here is what the auditorium looked like:

About 50 people had taken seats

By 6:30 when Mrs. Chiaverini began her presentation, the auditorium looked like this:

The tiny blue dot in the upper left is Mrs. Chiaverini!

Mrs. Chiaverini had kind things to say about Hutchinson.  She and her husband stopped by our wonderful Kansas Cosmosphere.  Her husband Marty (who was traveling with her) is an aeronautical engineer and I think they were both fairly well impressed by our little town's big museum.  Mrs. Chiaverini gave an entertaining talk and very graciously took questions and signed autographs for about 45 minutes.

Autographs with a smile!

I think it was a great evening.  Annette Smith, Ruth Heidebrecht, Tina Stropes, Barb Scott and many other Friends and staff have my appreciation and thanks for a job well done!  Many thanks go to our Friends of the Library group for sponsoring the visit!

Bookworm Brew cookies pretty well picked over!  YUM!