Digital Subscriptions – Licensing, Pricing &

Formats

Kathy PetlewskiElectronic Resources Librarian

Plymouth District Library

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

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

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’s ebrary, Gale’s Virtual Library,

EBSCO’s eBook sets, NetLibrary’s sets

Subscription Models

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…