Tauranga libraries are introducing eBooks into stock for borrowing and libraries manager Jill Best is expecting them to be available online from next month.
Tauranga City Libraries is in the final stages of tweaking the software that will enable people to download eBooks for a small fee.
'We'll be ready to roll within the next month, it's very close,” says Jill.
'We are working with Wheelers to fine tune the software at the moment.”
Wheelers Books will host the eBook site so there will be no additional bandwidth required at the Tauranga end, says Jill.
'It will be very easy to do – quite a lot of people will get eReaders for Christmas,” says Jill.
News of the eBook scheme was revealed in a two line comment contained in the libraries section of the monitoring report received by the Tauranga City Council's projects and monitoring committee on Monday. It read: ‘Developing a Pilot Project for introducing e-book availability to the Library. Testing and finalising proposal underway.'
It was seized upon by Kindle proselytiser councillor Rick Curach who wanted to know where the money was coming from to pay for this and had the council approved it.
The money for the project is coming out of the city libraries' stock budget, so the project wasn't discussed by council, says libraries manager Jill Best.
There is a National Library eBook system called Overdrive, but Jill says Tauranga Libraries pulled out of this because they intend to charge for eBooks, as they do for CDs, DVDs, magazine etc – and the Overdrive software can't charge.
'We are working with our main New Zealand book supplier, a company called Wheelers, and we are setting up a rival arrangement which will have a charging mechanism in New Zealand conditions,” says Jill after the meeting.
'And we will own the books outright as opposed to Overdrive, where if you stop paying their bill they take all their books away.”
The software will work with virtually all the 30 different brands of eBook device on the market, plus pc, laptop, iPad – but not a Kindle.
'It won't work with Amazon or Kindle, their software is different and they won't let it play with anyone else,” says Jill.
'Virtually every library in the country will go for one or the other (Overdrive or Wheelers) and will have eBooks by the end of the year,” says Jill.
13 comments
proselytiser??
Posted on 28-06-2011 10:28 | By Andrew B
What is a proselytiser? And do we need one on our Council?
No we don't
Posted on 28-06-2011 13:42 | By Bill Gibson-Patmore
We certainly don't need one on our council (or indeed another one). I believe a proselytiser to be one who incessantly attempts to ram one's opinion (belief, thought, evn religion) down the throat of others in an unwavering campaign, and without much, if any, regard for feelings, beliefs or due process. I cannot imagine who would become a Kindle proselytiser or what they would do to become one, but it must be an unusual campaign they are on! Bill Gibson-Patmore
Joke Joke Joke!!
Posted on 28-06-2011 15:46 | By wreck1080
There is already a national library system!!! And, it gives free books so why are they even looking at charging? The whole running of the libraries here is a circus, from the proposal to charge for books, to limiting the number of books per library card. Also, their overdue notification system has been designed by amateurs. I suspect, the library is being put under pressure by the council to raise extra revenue. This is due to the councils ineptness at keeping rates rises under control.
PUT ALL ON THE NET
Posted on 28-06-2011 17:52 | By WARTS N ALL
oh well it is all more or less there already, so benefit is close them all down and sack a 150 staff that are over paid and dont need anymore ASAP
Yay
Posted on 28-06-2011 18:51 | By dragonlady111
So excited that this is finally coming to Tauranga. And think it's an excellent idea being able to charge for eBooks. eBooks still have to be purchased, and they have tighter controls than physical books now. Most people who have purchased an eReader are quite happy to pay a small amount to have the latest new release as an eBook, exactly the same way as people who want the latest best seller pay the $2 fee, or people who want audio books/CDs or DVDs pay a small fee for these. To me this has the added benefit of potentially recouping the cost of purchasing the eBook (by the library)and possibly funding the purchase of print books. Guess I know what I'm getting my dad for christmas - he loved using my eReader (for so many reasons), but is a great fan of the local Tauranga library... now he can have his cake AND eat it too :) And if there is any change they'll let out of towners borrow their eBook collection, why shouldn't the out-of-towners at least be charged for the service? (just to throw another worm in the can)
INVENTING THE WHEEL?
Posted on 28-06-2011 22:14 | By YABBA DABBA DO
Why dont we all just tap into the net, close the lot down and save $10m+ a year in rates(save 10%+ of rates) sell off the buildings and pay off about $40m off the debt (save about 7% of rates) and everthing you wanted to read would be for free on the internt anyway, that is the way the world is going ... in end result STP wasting our money on concrete books full of waste of time books and paying waste of space staff to shuffle them! All at a cost of millions to us all.
Have not read the article
Posted on 29-06-2011 20:29 | By Nigel Barker
Do not need to read the article. The question is "Why is TCC 'attempting' to do what private enterprise (RATEPAYERS)succeed in doing??? If "The People" want it let user pay!! K.I.S.S. How much more of this clap trap RUBBISH RUBBISH RUBBISH will "The Citizens" of TCC endure before they 'stand up united and be counted'?? Bashed Bruised Bullied Beaten Belittled By Belligerent Bureaucratic Behaviour - Stand united with our support for your cause. - Citizens Monitoring Council -
@ NIGEL
Posted on 30-06-2011 00:53 | By TERMITE
Because the losses are not yet "BIG" enough ... we can make it better (larger losses) philosophy applies of course. They do because they can, not because it is right, good, sensible, or for anyother well meaning reason.
Admission that times are a'changing
Posted on 30-06-2011 08:40 | By Hebegeebies
Good to hear 'E' books are all the go.Looks like predictions on the demise of books and libraries generally within 5years was right on the money.TCC should take the hint and start dismantling the TCC library structure and demobbing the staff forthwith.Institute a TCC policy of no further staff hire and let natural attrition do the job as will save us redundancy payments.Joy to the world as they say.
THE END IS CLOSE ...
Posted on 30-06-2011 08:42 | By DRONE
That would normally mean that libraries will end soon, all will be online. So that means TCC will rush through a new and massive building program to expand the libraries and rack up the costs even more, just becasue they can ...
EBOOKS ONLINE
Posted on 30-06-2011 11:36 | By SCARLET PIMP
Far better idea then easily available to all online all the time.
ANOTHER EXCUSE TO SHUFFLE BOOKS
Posted on 01-07-2011 11:25 | By YOGI
More staff needed I am sure ... another excuse to expand the staff base and so all the pointy heads get another pay rise as the prya-maid expands exponentually.
Start winding TCC libraries down
Posted on 02-07-2011 07:37 | By EYESPY
If nothing else chief librarian Ms. Best has proved to us we won't need libraries in near future so let's start eliminating them now. That way we won't suddenly end up with a huge white elephant one morning.Do it gradually over the next 5years and zero it out.TCC contribution will trek downwards each year that way which is a win win situation.
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