An NPR Interview: How Should [Library] Ebooks Be priced?

The NPR’s Indicator From Planet Money recently released a podcast about library ebook lending and the Internet Archive use of Controlled Digital Lending.

One person interviewed is Carmi Parker, Whatcom County Library System ILS Administrator. [Disclaimer—Carmi is a member of RF’s Working Group and instrumental in library digital content advocacy.]

You may listen to the podcast here and instead (or as well) see a transcript here.

The podcast’s hosts banter can sometimes be a little trying, but overall they do a good job exploring the issues. I wish they had been more rigorous in their exploration of some points. For example, AAP counsel is able to say "the Internet Archive is not a real library. It only masquerades as one.” The AAP doesn’t have any authority to define what libraries are; his unsubstantiated claim, which should be dismissed out-of-hand as mere legal posturing, should either not have been included or at least an explanation of what a library IS should have been demanded. On the matter of publisher ebook prices, however, the presenters present Carmi ‘s point faithfully and well.

RF encourages a listen or review of the transcript And the more attention paid to the plight of libraries and library readers, the better!