Libraries are Screwed, Part 1

The world of content is changing quickly; how do eBooks impact libraries? A tipping point is upon us, are libraries screwed? And if so, what can we do about it? Part 1 of a 2 Part youtubeification of Eli's talk at the Library Journal / School Library Journal eBook summit: Libraries at the Tipping Point, held September 29, 2010. Featuring the live audio from the sessions and the slides as Keynote intended!

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  People & Blogs

[matthewlane]

"The codex is ouotmoded" @ 00:50

With all respect, bullshit. A book can out do an e-book on any day of the week. A book never has its batteries run flat, a book can never be accidentally deleted, if a publisher loses the rights to a particular property the publishers doesn't come to your home & removes the book. I don't need any piece of technology to read a book. The only advantage the E-book has to 99% of the population is you can carry 600 free e-books you'll never read around with you

[awwweiler]

Eli is focused on “stuff” here, but there will always be people who cannot afford their own personal access to that “stuff”. And there will always be people who need help navigating the deeper waters of content. The constitution mandates public access to creative work (after a "limited time"). If we abandon libraries, we limit access to only those who can afford it, and who are knowledgeable enough to navigate it and evaluate it. It’s not about the “codex”; it’s about access. It's about people.

[TheJoeOriginal]

Eli said candles are "A shadow of it's former self."

Huh ho!

[zelgoodman]

Also, ebooks very well may fail to thrive, or even die from the blood loss after publishers shot them in the foot with artificially high prices and proprietary formatting.

[pofuno]

wow fucking nerds their just fucking books get over it

[babsjaneb]

Enjoyed the video, makes many complex points very easy to understand. Not sure what the future is but the concept of community platform is interesting...

[Eric Bateman]

We will shift to accommodate new formats -- but I don't think the publishers will come with us willingly. DRM gives publishers more control over what the end user does with their content. I buy a book in print -- I can give it to anyone. I buy an ebook -- it's mine (until somebody cracks the DRM and starts sharing it illegally). Be sure to see Part 2 of this discussion, in which Eli contends that the possible future of libraries is not primarily based on sharing content from publishers.

[TheRLPL]

@ebateman, I don't know if I do agree with that. The fact is that libraries DO exist, and our society has an expectation that access to information (whatever the format) will be provided. Maybe it's overly optimistic or naive of me, but somehow I think we'll shift to accommodate the new formats, and the publishers will shift with us.If not, we end up with too great a divide in our country between those with access to information and those without.

[Eric Bateman]

I agree with the statement that "we are unlikely [with ebooks] to ever have...the flexibility with our purchases that we currently have" -- this is something dictated by publishers who know I will never be able to sell (or give away) an eBook loaded on my eReader. I hope the future lies with a centrally funded lending model -- but even THAT only works if ALL of my patrons have the devices, or I am able to loan them one ($). Do we just give up and say, hey, if you want this, you've gotta buy it?