Independent Publishers

The emergence of the digital publishing paradigm has created new opportunities for independent publishers.  The traditional costs associated with print publications; production, distribution and marketing, can be significantly reduced when producing born digital titles.  In the United States the output of independent publishers is approximately on par with that of mainstream commercial publishers and yet this content represents only a minor part of the collections of US public libraries.     Jamie LaRue the director of Douglas County libraries believes that on the whole the quality and diversity of independently published titles deserves consideration by public libraries.  LaRue also indicates that unlike commercial publishers, independent publishers are receptive to dealing directly with public libraries to negotiate the outright sale of titles as opposed to provision under a leasing arrangement.  The challenge for a public library purchasing digital content directly from publishers is how to host the content and make it accessible in accordance to the terms and conditions negotiated with the publisher/author. Third party eBook platform aggregators tend to exclude the uploading of content acquired by a library outside of the pre-existing arrangements that they have with publishers, or charge an additional administration fee when permitted. To overcome this and other associated issues Douglas County Libraries created their own eContent delivery platform (for further information refer to section).  At the time of writing, no Australian public library has replicated the Douglas County initiative.

 

 In Australia the Small Press Network (SPN), a representative body for small and Independent Australian publishers recently developed in partnership with Inventive Labs and the independent bookstore Readings, an eBookstore for Australian content called Book.ish (https://booki.sh/home).  The US company OverDrive subsequently acquired Booki.sh

 It is unclear what impact this will have on the availability of small and independent publications for eLending in libraries.  The SPN website indicates agreements are in place with OverDrive and two additional library eBook aggregators, Wheelers and Baker & Taylor for the supply of content.  On 22nd March 2013 Booki.sh announced that it will stop selling eBooks as of June 30, 2013.  The browser based reading technology will continue to be used by OverDrive.  

 

Another interesting initiative of SPN is the creation of a Small Press Digital Distribution Network, launched In February 2012.  This state-of-the-art digital asset management system will allow SPN to offer its members easy access to ebook vendors globally.  

 

For small and independent authors that are not members of SPN the eBook aggregator Wheelers has indicated that they are willing to include this content onto their platform for eLending purposes.  This process would involve the creator or publisher entering into an agreement with the vendor; batch upload costs would be incurred by the library.