Ebooks in Libraries? Publishers May Have Something Else in Mind.

Last week we went to a focus group sponsored by Douglas County Public Libraries (DCPL). The system is a leader and pioneer in getting ebooks into library systems. DCPL invited authors from around Denver to give input for the system’s nascent plans to help publish independent ebooks and to place high-quality independently published and self-published ebooks in libraries (perhaps even beyond Douglas County). I’ll write on what they’re planning in the future, but today I want to highlight some facts that were presented to us:

According to DCPL, three of the six big publishers won’t sell ebooks to libraries. (I find that fact intensely interesting and troubling.) About 300,000 “big six publisher” books (290,000 in ebook format) are produced annually. 2.7 million books are now self-published each year. Sixteen of the last 100 best sellers on the New York Times best seller list were self-published.

Publishing’s rapid and radical changes raises two interesting issues:

1) We are currently seeing a battle for power in this new digital book age. It’s happening at the bookstore, publishing and writing levels. Combatants in this raging war include the new giants (Amazon, Apple, etc) and the former giants (big six publishers, Barnes and Noble, independent book stores, big-name authors), with self-interest and money seemingly driving decisions and alliances. The settlement/continuing struggle between the justice department and Apple and their allies continues, as indicated by two recent articles: Amazon’s the Villain and Justice Department Slams Apple.

2) With so much content out there and the traditional gatekeepers losing grasp on control of that content, how do we find what’s worth our while? This is something DCPL is figuring into their calculations, and it’s something we all have to consider as we decide what to read next.

Exciting and interesting times in writing and publishing.