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Say hello to your new librarian

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<strong>Say</strong> <strong>hello</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>your</strong><br />

<strong>new</strong> <strong>librarian</strong><br />

There is a silent revolution going on in our libraries. Not<br />

long ago, libraries were independent. Free <strong>to</strong> choose, buy<br />

and recommend literature and factual books from amongst<br />

all the books that were in print. Then came eBooks…


What did this mean for libraries?<br />

The same content, fantastic <strong>new</strong> format. Now reading<br />

and knowledge could be spread <strong>to</strong> many more people!<br />

Through computers, tablets and smart phones, <strong>new</strong><br />

readers would be found, even among those who might<br />

never have made it through an entire book printed on<br />

paper.<br />

And for major publishers?<br />

Threats and opportunities. E-books are potential cash<br />

cows - provided that the threat of libraries’ independent<br />

choices and purchases are eliminated.<br />

The results, when the big publishers’ requirements<br />

are up against the mission of libraries, have been disappointing.<br />

Today, through their monopoly distribu<strong>to</strong>r<br />

Elib, major publishers - not libraries - control which<br />

eBooks are available for lending, and when they will be<br />

released <strong>to</strong> the libraries. In practice, this means that anyone<br />

who wants <strong>to</strong> borrow an eBook has <strong>to</strong> wait patiently<br />

for several months until the title has dropped from the<br />

<strong>to</strong>p of the best-selling charts. If the book succeeds at all<br />

in qualifying from the publishers’ point of view, that is.<br />

Your <strong>new</strong> <strong>librarian</strong> likes money more than books and<br />

owns a large publishing company. Is this how we want it<br />

<strong>to</strong> be? What do our politicians think?


The standpoint of<br />

the Swedish Library<br />

Association<br />

For the Swedish Library Association, the eBook issue means<br />

standing up for the fundamental mission of libraries. The public<br />

library service is aimed at everyone’s freedom <strong>to</strong> seek, receive and<br />

impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of<br />

national borders. It is enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration<br />

of Human Rights and further developed in the European Convention<br />

for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.<br />

The right of free access <strong>to</strong> information is essential <strong>to</strong> be able<br />

<strong>to</strong> use an individual’s right of freedom of opinion and expression.<br />

Libraries have therefore ultimately a democratic mandate when<br />

they make information and knowledge available <strong>to</strong> all.


E-books and<br />

public libraries<br />

An eBook is one of several formats that public libraries buy <strong>to</strong><br />

supply <strong>to</strong> their borrowers. E-reading is still in its infancy in Sweden.<br />

Here one has access <strong>to</strong> around 5,000 titles while in the U.S.,<br />

for example, perhaps the most advanced country in the e-reading<br />

world, has access <strong>to</strong> 1 million titles. E-books have the potential<br />

<strong>to</strong> spread reading <strong>to</strong> more people and <strong>new</strong> groups of readers that<br />

libraries would otherwise find hard <strong>to</strong> reach. Access <strong>to</strong> eBooks in<br />

libraries is thus not only a question of freedom for users <strong>to</strong> choose<br />

their preferred format, but also affects the libraries’ core mission:<br />

<strong>to</strong> encourage the reading process and provide citizens free access<br />

<strong>to</strong> information.<br />

In terms of the authors’ and publishers’ interests, libraries<br />

also work as s<strong>to</strong>refronts and as introducers of individual authors<br />

and their works. The lending of eBooks will help libraries <strong>to</strong> both<br />

increase the availability of <strong>new</strong> and popular books, and introduce<br />

<strong>new</strong> technology <strong>to</strong> <strong>new</strong> groups. This will be useful <strong>to</strong> the publishers<br />

in the long run.


The current<br />

compensation<br />

model<br />

Today’s compensation model has passed its’ sell-by date. Today,<br />

libraries pay a fee of about 20 SEK per loan. Libraries are often<br />

forced <strong>to</strong> ration their purchases and lending of eBooks. The<br />

limitations of eBook lending inhibit a library’s core mission - <strong>to</strong><br />

enhance the reading matter format and facilitate citizens’ right <strong>to</strong><br />

free access <strong>to</strong> information.<br />

Payment per loan treats all eBooks in the same way. This is an<br />

unreasonable approach because the vast majority of eBooks are<br />

only borrowed a very limited number of times or never. Libraries<br />

have the task of building collections. These include books, regardless<br />

of format, that are not on the best-selling charts. Existing<br />

statistics show that eBooks spend a very short time on such charts.<br />

Thereafter interest drops quickly. Local examples show, however,<br />

that the interest <strong>to</strong> borrow individual titles may be affected by the<br />

activities of libraries.


A <strong>new</strong><br />

compensation<br />

model<br />

The Swedish Library Association wants a model with payments<br />

for eBooks that change over time. Higher fees during the first few<br />

weeks when a book is <strong>new</strong>, and then lower fees, the older the book<br />

is. The reason is that libraries make available all eBooks, even those<br />

that do not have a commercial market. In 2011, about 1, 500 eBook<br />

titles were never loaned from public libraries, and about 100 titles<br />

accounted for half of all eBook lending. Libraries will continue <strong>to</strong><br />

pay publishers and authors for the materials purchased. Libraries<br />

want <strong>to</strong> continue <strong>to</strong> pay their way, while giving their users access <strong>to</strong><br />

the full potential of eBooks.


Essential Principles<br />

for libraries<br />

The Swedish Library Association’s overall mission<br />

is <strong>to</strong> ensure everyone’s right <strong>to</strong> free access <strong>to</strong> information,<br />

culture and knowledge through public libraries.<br />

Some principles are guidelines for us when we are<br />

trying <strong>to</strong> achieve a <strong>new</strong> sustainable business model<br />

for eBook lending:<br />

• E-books should, like printed books, be made available in public<br />

libraries for libraries <strong>to</strong> fulfil their basic mission (<strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong><br />

well-informed citizens who through free and unfettered access <strong>to</strong><br />

knowledge, thoughts, culture and information <strong>to</strong> make independent<br />

decisions and participate in the development of democracy).<br />

• Library users should have access <strong>to</strong> all kinds of literature in all<br />

published formats, while the authors have the right <strong>to</strong> compensation<br />

for their work.<br />

• The eBook format’s ability <strong>to</strong> be accessed and used should be<br />

embraced instead of being restricted in comparison with printed<br />

books.<br />

• The conditions for a broader range of eBooks should be created.<br />

• Libraries should also, when it comes <strong>to</strong> eBooks, be able <strong>to</strong> offer<br />

their borrowers current material - so-called withholding periods<br />

should not occur.<br />

• Borrowers must be able <strong>to</strong> borrow and consume media in the<br />

media channels of their choice, including digital.<br />

• Lending of eBooks should be covered by the government flatcompensation:<br />

Libraries compensation.<br />

• Competition in the distribution of eBooks should be sought.


Niclas Lindberg,<br />

Secretary General of the<br />

Swedish Library Association,<br />

answers questions:<br />

Pho<strong>to</strong>grapher: Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin<br />

Why has the Swedish Library<br />

Association started a campaign about<br />

eBooks?<br />

–We will fight for everyone’s right <strong>to</strong> information<br />

and knowledge!<br />

The libraries’ ability <strong>to</strong> fulfil their assignment<br />

for democracy and freedom of information<br />

becomes more difficult when commercial<br />

opera<strong>to</strong>rs, through withholding periods and<br />

limitations of what libraries may purchase,<br />

hinder the libraries’ access <strong>to</strong> eBooks. We want<br />

<strong>to</strong> show how serious and troubling this situation<br />

is for libraries’ independence and freedom <strong>to</strong><br />

acquire and lend eBooks.<br />

What do you want <strong>to</strong> achieve?<br />

– We want libraries <strong>to</strong> continue <strong>to</strong> be free and<br />

independent <strong>to</strong> purchase and lend the titles they<br />

want regardless of their publication format. It is<br />

basically a question of the libraries’ mission for<br />

democracy and freedom of information.<br />

Why did talks with the Swedish<br />

Publishers’ Association break down?<br />

– The Swedish Library Association’s mission<br />

is <strong>to</strong> ensure everyone’s right <strong>to</strong> free access <strong>to</strong><br />

information, culture and knowledge through<br />

public libraries. We fought for a model that both<br />

ensures that library users have access <strong>to</strong> all kinds<br />

of literature in all published formats, as well as<br />

ensuring an author’ right <strong>to</strong> compensation for<br />

their work. The Publishers Association locked<br />

themselves in a model that we could not support<br />

and said that they couldn’t see opportunities for<br />

going along with our point of view.<br />

The Swedish Library Association suggested<br />

that the majority of eBook titles should be<br />

subject <strong>to</strong> a form of subscription model for a<br />

fixed price. This would favour the range of titles<br />

libraries would possess, helping the libraries’<br />

mission <strong>to</strong> make available, and highlight, literature<br />

beyond the best seller charts and would<br />

give libraries clarity and control over their<br />

eBook budget. During our conversations main<br />

publishers introduced additional withholding<br />

periods which did not bring the issue forward.<br />

Why do you think eBooks are so<br />

important?<br />

– E-books are in libraries <strong>to</strong> stay and we think<br />

they are a great opportunity for more people<br />

<strong>to</strong> get access <strong>to</strong> information and knowledge.<br />

Libraries have always responded <strong>to</strong> changes<br />

in the medium through which information<br />

is conveyed. With all changes in technology,<br />

libraries have adapted their operations <strong>to</strong> fit<br />

<strong>new</strong> media. Libraries will guide and introduce<br />

<strong>new</strong> users and support the introduction of <strong>new</strong><br />

technology. In practice, libraries market the<br />

library eBook titles for publishers and also pay<br />

for those efforts.<br />

Now we are once again facing a major technology<br />

leap. University and college libraries, as<br />

well as research libraries, have come a long way<br />

in adapting <strong>to</strong> eBooks, while public libraries are<br />

still at the beginning of the trend.<br />

What do you want <strong>to</strong> happen now?<br />

– We want accountable politicians <strong>to</strong> take a<br />

stand on the issue and give their support <strong>to</strong><br />

libraries. The Government has determined that<br />

Sweden will be the best in the world at using<br />

digitization opportunities. This also requires<br />

concrete initiatives from the Government and<br />

Parliament <strong>to</strong> eliminate barriers <strong>to</strong> library<br />

eBook lending.<br />

At the same time all libraries, The National Library,<br />

The Reposi<strong>to</strong>ry Library / The Loan Centre<br />

and the Swedish Library Association must, in<br />

other ways, continue working with our public<br />

libraries <strong>to</strong> broaden libraries’ access <strong>to</strong> eBooks.<br />

There are books without copyright that can be<br />

digitized and made available as eBooks. There<br />

are books where the authors themselves have<br />

rights <strong>to</strong> their eBook, but lack opportunities for<br />

digitization. And there are local materials in<br />

libraries that could become eBooks. Here there<br />

must be more initiatives and a national technical<br />

infrastructure that supports making such<br />

materials available <strong>to</strong> all.


SVENSK BIBLIOTEKSFÖRENING<br />

SWEDISH LIBRARY ASSOCIATION<br />

Box 703 80, 107 24 S<strong>to</strong>ckholm, Sweden, E.U.<br />

Phone: +46 8 545132 30, Fax: +46 8 545132 31<br />

www.biblioteksforeningen.org

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