A library is not a publisher's enemy

This post from the blog, Librarian By Day, about the issues between publishers and libraries (summarized below) is, I think, really born of the frustration that libraries are experiencing because publishers are trying to change the rules now that books and other resources are available electronically. On the surface this article is really about libraries, but the reality is that this about the paradigm shifts that we are facing in almost every walk of life.

The format of information should not matter and cannot matter. We deal with this with students and unreasonable assignment requirements all the time. Students need books – book-books, not e-books. Except libraries are buying more and more e-books because of space restraints and the ability to serve the books to online students and distance-ed students – so finding book-books is going to be increasingly difficult.

Publishers and teachers need to stop worrying about the format of the resource. What they should be worried about is the quality and the reliability and the demand for the information IN the resource.

9 Reasons Publishers Should Stop Acting Like Libraries Are The Enemy and Start Thanking Them

Libraries let people read your books.

Libraries introduce people to your books

We celebrate books and authors everyday, all year long.

Archives.

Publicity.

We WANT to buy your books.

We love books too.

Who else is going to pay those ridiculously high database and journal prices?

Library users are your best customers.