Breaking News: Amazon and DPLA Talking About Sharing Exclusive Content

Librarians and their stakeholders have been pushing back at Amazon’s refusal to allow libraries to have access in ebooks (or with Audible, digital audiobook) to their exclusively published content. A reporter for The Hill, Rebecca Klar, in writing an article about library pushback has revealed that Amazon and the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) have been in talks to share Amazon original content through the DPLA Content Exchange.

Few other details are available. It seems no deal has yet been signed. Any license terms have not been discussed. It is not certain yet if only DPLA is in negotiations or if other platforms (OverDrive, Bibliotheca, Baker & Taylor, etc.) may also be talking with Amazon. It could be that DPLA’s non-profit status and (for now) more limited distribution of content via SimplyE is giving it an advantage. If an exclusive deal is struck, however, it could be advantageous for DPLA and the SimplyE platform. Amazon might also gain. The petition to “stop Amazon’s war on libraries” will be less forceful if Amazon works with libraries in an open source platform and content exchange both designed by and for libraries.

[Full disclosure: your humble author is the same Blackwell quoted in the article.] In a statement to The Hill, quoted only in part, I said this: “From a library perspective, it would be problematic to send our patrons directly to Amazon’s site, as currently happens when patrons access eBooks in the Kindle format through OverDrive. We like to keep patron information private. We also want patrons not to have to leave library digital space, so that the transaction is simple and seamless. If Amazon would provide the eBooks and perhaps audiobooks to launch through DPLA’s Content Exchange, which uses the open source SimplyE app, this could be a wonderful and important development for library readers.”

The devil will be in the details. Implemented properly, such a partnership would create good additions to library content. We have yet another reason for hope in 2021. If a good deal goes through, guaranteeing easy and private access at reasonable costs, RF will retract the various negative swipes it has made at Amazon over the years.

Amazon, please prove us wrong in our previous criticisms!

DPLA, this is exciting news. Wishing you every success!