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Smashwords launches library initiative
Working in digital anything means constantly advancing, and Mark Coker at Smashwords is a true innovator – and not one to be left behind.
Hot on the heels of the Kindle Lending Library, Smashwords have launched Library Direct. Library Direct is available to libraries that host and manage their own ebook checkout systems, typically using Adobe Content Server, and that are capable of acquiring a large opening collection.
They say:
“We have already received purchase commitments from three library systems, each of which will acquire some variation of our top 10,000 best-selling titles. The purchase commitments approach $100,000 in total.
The first delivery is on schedule to occur next week to Douglas County Libraries in Colorado, which will purchase an opening collection drawn from the top 10,000 best-selling titles at Smashwords. Douglas Country, under the leadership of director Jamie LaRue, has been an outspoken proponent of what is becoming known as the “Douglas County Model.” The Douglas Country Model aims to replicate for ebooks the process by which libraries have traditionally acquired print books. The library acquires the book, owns the book, and manages the checkout systems where they limit the checkout to one copy at a time for each title they own. Douglas Country monitors the number of “holds” on each book (the number of people waiting to check it out), and if the hold count exceeds a certain number of patrons, the library purchases additional copies.
The other two library systems expected to acquire similar-sized collections include Califa and The Internet Archive.”
For more info on how this can effect your book sales, check out
http://blog.smashwords.com/2012/08/new-smashwords-direct-enables-libraries.html
