Pilot Project: 3M Cloud Library Will Provide Two New York Libraries Access to Penguin Ebooks

Update: ALA President Shares Comments About New Program
From The Wall St. Journal:

Penguin Group and electronic-book distributor have made a deal with two New York City public library systems that will return Penguin e-books to library shelves for a one-year pilot.
If successful at the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library—two of the country’s largest library systems—Penguin said it could offer similar deals to libraries across the U.S., including school and university libraries. And the deal could prompt other major publishers that currently don’t sell e-books to libraries to soften their stances, said Matt Tempelis, global business manager for the 3M Cloud Library.

Fast Facts:

• Pilot Begins in August
• All Penguin Titles (Some 15,000 Will Be Available)
• However, New Titles Will Not Be Available to Libraries Until 6 Months After Publication
• Library e-Books Made Available to Libraries for One Year (With Renewable Terms)
• Prices For Books Will Be in the “Same Range” As What Consumers Pay

Read the complete article with comments from Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library officials.
From The New York Times:

David Shanks, the chief executive of Penguin Group, said in a statement: “We have always been committed to libraries and we are hopeful that this experiment will be successful. Our partnership with 3M and the New York Public Library is a first step toward understanding the best means of supporting the growing digital missions of our great library institutions and their sincere desire to bring writers to new readers.”

Quick Comments
+ Timely and smooth move by 3M and Penguin to work together.
+ We posted about Penguin not being very happy with OverDrive in February.
+ However, at least at this point, library users who like to read ebooks on their Kindle devices are going to be out of luck. Confused and disappointed library users are not a good thing.
+  Would Penguin be willing to work with Amazon to provide access for the Kindle. Here’s what a Penguin spokesperson told us:

If Amazon chooses to open its platform to public library lending we are happy for our library lent eBooks to be read on Kindles.

6-21-12 Library

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Companies (Publishers/Vendors), Libraries, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries, Publishing