Barbara Schleihagen, Miriam Schriefers, German Library Association
E-Books in German Public
Libraries: business model with
aggregators and others
NAPLE seminar on e-book
business models for public
libraries, 13 May 2013, Milano
Background: German e-book market
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2011: 4,7 Mio e-books sold (2010: 2 Mio)
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2011: 757.000 e-book buyers (2010: 540.000)
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2012: 2,4 % of the customer book market (2011: 1%)
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2012: 6,2% of the total turnover in publishing
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2015: 17% of total turnover in publishing expected
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available now are about 741.424 titles (Libreka)
(Source: German Publishers and Booksellers Association, 07.05.2013)
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German Library Association | Barbara Schleihagen, Miriam Schriefers
Background: German public libraries
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82 Mio inhabitants
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8,131 public libraries altogether: professionally led
(2.100) and voluntarily run (6.000) public libaries
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7,9 Mio readers are registered public library users
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125 Mio patrons visit our public libraries each year
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124 Mio media units are held by our public libraries
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380 Mio media units are borrowed in pl by users/year
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Statistical data of 2011 (DBS)
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Two aggregators in Germany: Ciando eBooks
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takeoff in 2003 for scientific libraries
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since 2011/12 also available for public libraries
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used by 50 public libraries (2013)
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145.000 media units
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1.000 audiobooks
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Loan for end customer foreseen in 2013 (lending fee
per title)
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Two aggregators in Germany: Divibib GmbH
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Digital virtual libraries started in 2007
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only for public libraries, no commercial offer yet, library
pass needed for use
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2012: participation of 670 public libraries of 2.100
professionally run libraries (2013: 1.000 expected)
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2012: 4 Mio loans
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2012: 60.000 media units (e-magazines, e-papers, e-books,
audiobooks, music and videos)
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E-lending in German public libraries: Divibib GmbH
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Offers complete service with all components
(comparable to US-aggregator „OverDrive“):
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Implementation of online platform as digital library branch
Internet based service without installation needed
Technical support for running services
Negotiation of licences and distribution of digital contents
Subject indexing and delivery of catalogue entries in MAB2
Small libraries offer divibib in a network with others
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How it works: Registered library users…
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Visit homepage of local library
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Log-in with personal data before lending
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Browse digital content (format, topic, full text)
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Put interesting materials into library basket
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Download of materials to PC/e-book reader (no streaming,
Digital Rights Management in place)
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Library determines length of lending/no. of items (2-4
weeks, filing extension possible when no other reservation)
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Business model Divibib GmbH
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One supplier that negotiates on behalf of libraries
Single platform for delivery to the user
Package possible (e.g. the whole offer by Penguin),
individual titles possible
Current most common business model:
M-Licence = one digital copy to one reader at a time
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Business model Divibib GmbH
New Licensing models:
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L-Licence:
augmented availability for titles that are 2 years or older,
also for former M-Licence books
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XL-Licence:
parallel downloads for current titles possible for an extra
price. If all titles are „on loan“, 2 M-licences are
automatically available (classic single download)
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Selection of e-books
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almost all books are available to public libraries for the
same price as for customer
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window time for some titles
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over 650 publishers (2.220 total) are offering their ematerial!
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one big publishing house is missing (Holtzbrinck group –
Rowohlt, Klett-Cotta etc., own comercial offer „Skoobe“)
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on the whole, continous good dialogue with all publishers
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Ownership, long term access, preservation
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digital preservation is not a public library task in Germany
(modernisation of 10% of the public libraries‘ stock each
year)
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e-books are not owned by public library
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access to e-books via licences, no long term access
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Purchase of e-books and digital long term copy only
relevant for scientific libraries
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Pricing
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licence at same prices for public libraries (M-licence)
as for end costumer
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one publisher (Beck) asks for triple price, this seems
to be unlawful
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conversion from loan to sell models: no „buy it“ links
yet, but possible
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Access on site
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remote access for all registered library users coming from
the libraries‘ serving area
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Constraints on access: analogue model for digital world =
one copy for one user (friction strategies)
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amount of loans: if any then set by libraries
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Distribution platform
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Platform owned by Divibib GmbH
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Managed by Divibib GmbH
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Cost unknown (business secret)
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Integration in library environment
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Library catalogue: Some library software producers
offer interface, DiviBiB offers MAB & MARC data
and media covers for integration into catalogues for a
maximum of visibility of the digital offer
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LMS (Library Management System) in place to check
the user‘s identification and his library registration
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Apps for iPad, iPhone and Android platform only for
e-books in e-Pub
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Visibility
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Marketing tools available from DiviBib: digital frames,
bookmarks, posters, stickers and labels on media, giveaways, flyer, postcards…
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Increased local media work at various occasions: new
ebook reader, new offers, new applications…
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Increased advertisement in Internet: Homepage, Facebook,
Twitter, Blog, YouTube, mailing…
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Integration in reference service and training offers
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Commercial business models for E-Book lending
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Amazon.de: takeoff in 10/2012; lending-system; limited for prime patrons;
one e-book for free per month; proprietary software for Kindle reader; 8.500
german titles
Libreka! : takeoff in 10/2012, lending-system for end customers by German
Publishers and Booksellers Association; test phase; 760 titles; lending time 4
weeks; price setting by publishers with rebate system
Skoobe: takeoff in 02/2012; subscription-system for end customers; flatrate:
9,99 Euro/month; joint venture by Arvato, RandomHouse and Holtzbrinck;
simultaneous loan of 5 titles possible; available for iPhone, iPad, Android or
Kindle Fire; 20.000 titles
Paper C: takeoff in 2013, evolution of a subscription-system for end
customers, only scientific and educational books; flatrate: 29,99 Euro/month;
about 400 publishers
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E-lending legal framework
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(Copyright): Exhaustion should be extended to
electronic books so that libraries won‘t depend on the
publishers‘ offer
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Reduced VAT should also be applied for e-books
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Thank you!
Barbara Schleihagen
schleihagen@bibliotheksverband.de
www.bibliotheksverband.de
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