In many public libraries, one of the first areas that reduced budget effects is purchasing materials. With the rise of e-readers and downloadable books, it is no wonder that the number of circulating books is decreasing. According to Hoffert (2012), “Smaller libraries did better, averaging a one or two percent increase, but libraries serving every population range over 100,000 averaged decreases, and libraries serving populations 500,000 or more saw circulation tumble on average a disappointing 2.1 percent.”
Hoffert (2012) found “book budgets fell by 2.3 percent overall, with only 29 percent of respondents reporting an increase.” Could this decrease be a result of reduced book budgets? Not necessarily. Hoffert stated “despite the decrease, this year’s book budgets are higher than last year’s.” With this, it seems that your library would not have a problem getting the latest books for patrons to use. However, this is no longer the case as the number of e-books increases and becomes more popular. Hoffert (2010) explained “print books still account for most materials spending, averaging 61 percent of the budget compared with media (20 percent), ebooks (four percent), other electronic products (nine percent), and other materials (six percent).”
While every public library’s budget is different, the money spent to buy books ultimately comes to what the library can afford and what the patrons’ requests are. This is where e-books are starting to take precedence in libraries. Hoffert exclaimed “spending on books has trended downward since 2005 and fell on average three percent last year – about the same amount that ebook spending increased.” From this, one can see that collection budgets are making room for the upcoming trend of e-books.
Hoffert (2012) explained that sometimes spending money on books is not a matter of just not buying them more than it is about determining the best way to spend the money. For instance, with the rise of e-books, it seems more likely that a patron will request an author’s latest book on an easily downloadable e-book. Yet, there are still some people who prefer to have the actual book to read, check out, and return to the library. In the end, Hoffert (2012) declared “reducing funding confounds planning, so that librarians can’t even use their hard-earned skills to get what’s best for their patrons.”
Hoffert (2012) argued “the bigger is what the public’s ebook enthusiasm means for libraries generally, as patrons load up their ereaders with purchased ebooks they can’t get at the library.” Lately, there has been an issue with libraries being able to uphold licensing agreements and contracts with ebooks publishing companies.
Even with the rise of e-books, there are still some books that continue to circulate. Hoffert (2012) explained “cookbooks still hold the top spot, having knocked second-place medicine/health off its perch last year.”
Here is a video that discusses print books and how technology is affected their circulation.
Which do you prefer – a physical copy or an e-book? Have you seen a decrease in the amount of circulation at your library? Do you think this trend will eventually force librarians to spend less on books while purchasing more on e-books?
References:
Hoffert, Barbara. (2012). Book circulation takes a hit. Library Journal, 137(3), 22-24. Retrieved from http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/02/library-services/book-buying-survey-2012-book-circ-takes-a-hit/#_
I will always love the physical book more, but I can't deny the appeal and ease of a digital book. With that said, I think book circulation in rural areas will remain high until the technology is more accessible in those areas.
ReplyDeleteThough, a more worrisome issue for patrons who prefer digital over physical is that rights over digital books are being put into question (Lohne Mohn 1). While this article is expressly talking about Norway, this issue is coming to light in the US as well.
Lohne Mohn, Dag Erlend. "Scandinavian Library Quarterly." NORWAY E-books in the Library: Borrower's Rights at Risk. Scandinavian Library Quarterly, 2011. Web. 27 June 2012. .
I need a print book when I read, as reading is a tangible experience for me. I need to turn the pages, and feel the book in my hands. I have tried ereaders, but they strain my eyes and feel too strange. However, if I traveled a lot like one of my friends does for work, I would have one for the convenience of carrying all my favorite books with me.
ReplyDeleteWith the demand for ebooks rising and print decreasing, I wonder if it would be possible for libraries participating in an inter-library loan network to combine their budgets for print together, and purchase as many copies needed to share. Or, are they already doing that?
Amber – There seems to be an increase in e-book readers and users. In the article, “Ebooks Herald the 21st Century Publishing,” Herther (2012) pointed out that “pricing and access to ebooks remains an issue, especially for libraries; however, today ebooks are easily found online through major publishers, aggregators, apps stores, and other consumer outlets” (p. 16). With this, it seems that there are still some issues that need to be worked out in order for e-book usage to become more popular than print books. What do you think libraries could do in order to get people to try to use e-readers? Should they offer e-readers, such as the Kindle, for people to check out? Perhaps people do not want to spend the money on a product they do not know if they are going to like or not.
ReplyDelete-Lindsay F.
References:
Herther, N. (2012). Ebooks herald the 21st century publishing. Searcher, 20(2), 12-54. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.wayne.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=llf&AN=73031911&site=ehost-live
Jody – I also found that I prefer to have a tangible book with me to carry around and pick up any time I want to read. I read print books so I can get away from computers and give myself a break from technology.
ReplyDeleteIn the article, “Interlibrary Loan Purchase-On-Demand: A Misleading Literature,” Dyk (2011) explained:
Libraries must consider how much it costs to permanently add a title to the collection (a minimum of $27.72). Will the item get used enough to justify the increased upfront costs in staff overhead? If the cost to purchase an item is relatively low (<$8.00), the item would eventually pay for itself, over time becoming cheaper than ILLing multiple copies from different libraries. If the cost is relatively high (>$75.00), it is possible that the library will not get a full return on its investment. (p. 88)
Based on this information, it is important for libraries to take into consideration if purchasing certain materials will benefit the library and save money based on the number of copies that they expect to circulate. When the librarian does not feel that the material will be popular among many patrons, then they should use the interlibrary loan system to save money.
You bring up a good question in regards to whether libraries would be able to combine their budgets in order to purchase more copies to share. I have not heard of something like this. However, in the article referenced above, some libraries may purchase materials that other libraries do not have. Therefore, people would be able to borrow these materials from other libraries that have decided to purchase the items. However, I have yet to see libraries share budgets.
Please take a look at the link provided as this is the library where I work and we offer people the ability to see how much money they save from using the interlibrary loan system provided at our library.
http://plymouthlibrary.org/index.php/calculator
-Lindsay F.
References:
Dyk, G. (2011). Interlibrary loan purchase-on-demand: a misleading literature. Library collections, acquisitions, and technical services, 35(2-3), 83-89. doi:
10.1016/j.lcats.2011.04.001
I couldn't get the calculator to work, but as my five year-old daughter likes to check out 15 books at a time, it really is a no-brainer for me to realize the money I am saving. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt just seems to me that a network of libraries, say for example those that participate in the Library Network, could produce a combined budget to purchase new print books for interlibrary loan and thereby each institution could save some money. So, maybe ten libraries could purchase two copies of The DaVinci Code (ack)and those would be in circulation for any patron in the Library Network area. Another ten could purchase the latest James Patterson, and then all libraries would not have to deal with the burden of purchasing every single bestseller.
(I realize the number of copies I mentioned would probably be woefully short, but you see what I mean...)
You should have been able to access the calculator. If you are still interested in doing so, trying going to the calculator from the main page. (www.plymouthlibrary.org then look on the left side of the page for Library Value)
ReplyDeleteI do like your idea of being able to share the budget for print books with other libraries in the interlibrary loan system. In regards to bestsellers, would these be able to circulate right away? With MeL in Michigan, usually you cannot get bestselling books when they are first released from the library as they have too many requests or holds on them.
-Lindsay F.
Another thing to consider is the amount that it costs for interlibrary loan items to be sent from one library to another. With the increasing costs of postage stamps and shipping items (i.e. gas), it seems difficult to justify the costs of sending the materials. However, could this outweigh the costs of purchasing new materials, including books and DVDs? This article discusses the important of interloans in some Californian libraries. http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/888818-264/california_librarians_push_back_against.html.csp
ReplyDelete-Lindsay F.
I love my kindle for travel and the size (it is much smaller than most books) but I still prefer an actual book over an E-reader. I enjoy the ease of flipping back in pages if I missed something, the way the pages smell (is that weird?) and the progress I see as I read through a book. It's just a new experience reading with an E-reader. One great advantage to an E-reader is the ease of downloading books, especially with 3G.
ReplyDelete