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waiting list at library...for an e-book?

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superboyac:
An e-book is digital.
A public library offers books for free to users.
Why is there a waiting list?  If 10 people want the e-book and the library has it, all ten can get it!  No need for restrictions, it's digital!
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20120805/LOCAL/308059942/1002/local
Since the library can lend out only one copy of an e-book at a time, it would be cost-prohibitive to order multiple copies, Witwer said. That’s why many who go online to borrow an e-book discover there’s a waiting list.

“It’s not the same as with physical books,” she said.
--- End quote ---

Not to turn it into a debate, it's just silly sounding.  It's like, because before we had the physical limitation that restricted the number of users, for some reason that limitation is actually a desirable feature that needs to be retained throughout all time?  Why don't we use a telegraph while we're at it?  This is stupid, stupid stuff people.  What do I expect...same ol story.

superboyac:
So the publishers raise the e-book pricing to the libraries to limit the borrowing.
Fewer people get to read the book.
Less access to knowledge than before the price increase.
You can say if a lot of this happens, it leads to artificial inflation.  There was no real reason for the price increase except to prevent use, which in this case is just people who want to read a book from a library.
People like me will complain.
Complaints will have to be dealt with (Time, money).  Worse case scenario, it becomes a legal battle (much more time and money).
New laws are created.  More complications in life. This type of law is usually difficult to understand due to its ridiculous nature.

So in a sense, new technology led to a shittier life.  Great.  Then, the uneducated will blame the technology for this.  Technology is not the problem!  It's the people who won't allow the technology to just do what it does...it's there to be used freely.  It's an idea out in the open.  What now?  When are the restrictions on ideas going to get implemented?

IainB:
...“It’s not the same as with physical books,” she said.
-superboyac (August 16, 2012, 09:02 AM)
--- End quote ---

This probably makes sense, though of course they seem to have set things up in such a way as it is just the same as physical books.    :huh:
The difference is that you don't have to visit the library to pick the book up, and you are probably in an "electronic queue" for the e-book, so all you need do is patiently wait your turn.

The library has apparently only purchased one licence, so that's all they can lend out, at a time - i.e., one copy of the e-book. Yay! Brilliant.

It's not just silly-sounding, it's moronic IMO.

I think this point (lending library restrictions by copyright/licence) was already covered in at least one of several discussions in the DC forum covering e-books/Amazon/publishing/copyright constraints.
This is the sort of thing that could presumably make some people go and get a pirated copy...which is what copyright restrictions were supposed to avoid, I guess.
Hmm...something seems not quite right there.
Ah well, SNAFU. Greed and unintended consequences.

IainB:
People like me will complain.
-superboyac (August 16, 2012, 09:08 AM)
--- End quote ---
Good luck with that. Fat lot of good it may do you.

superboyac:
People like me will complain.
-superboyac (August 16, 2012, 09:08 AM)
--- End quote ---
Good luck with that. Fat lot of good it may do you.
-IainB (August 16, 2012, 09:29 AM)
--- End quote ---
seriously...

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