(Response followed by the original message.)
Subject: RE: CDL- illustrations in humanities ebooks
From: "Edwards, Mary" <meedwards_at_aii.edu>
The ebook should mirror the print book. If the publisher can't get
rights for the images, they should discount the ebook HEAVILY. You're
not getting the same book.
Mary E. Edwards
Director of Library Services
The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles
2900 31st Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405-3035
310-314-6154 (tel.)
meedwards_at_aii.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-COLLDV-L_at_usc.edu [mailto:owner-COLLDV-L_at_usc.edu] On Behalf
Of Lynn Sipe
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:17 AM
To: COLLDV-L_at_usc.edu
Subject: CDL- illustrations in humanities ebooks
> > From:"Anderson, Helen" <handerson_at_library.rochester.edu>
> > Apologies for cross-posting with the collib-l list.
> > Hello,
> > In addition to my work as a librarian, I'm on the editorial board of a
> > small academic humanities publisher. To date, they have been supplying
> > only their backlist titles as ebooks. They submit a disclaimer that
> > reads " Some images in the printed version of this book are not
> > available for inclusion in the eBook. To view the images on this page
> > please refer to the printed version of this book." In other words,
> > they do not have the electronic rights for all the illustrations.
> >
> > Now, they would like to move further into the field of ebooks. Rather
> > than only supplying backlist titles, they intend to release front list
> > titles within 60 days of the printed book release. Securing electronic
> > rights to all the illustrations at the same time as securing the print
> > rights, would increase the price of the book.
> >
> > They want to know how librarians feel about purchasing eBooks that
> > don't have the same number of illustrations as the printed version?
> > They would like to understand what concerns and reactions librarians
> > have regarding this.
> >
> > I gave a fairly nuanced response to my contact, saying that it
> > depended on the title. To save a bit on the price, I reasoned, it
> > might be OKAY not to have all the illustrations. When it comes to
> > humanities, I usually buy the print first and the ebook later in order
> > to provide a greater number of students and faculty. This is a
> > reflection feedback I've had from our humanities faculty. Yes, they
> > want to use stuff from their desktop, but they still want us to have
> > the print in the collection. So if the ebook is seen as supplementary
> > to the print, maybe it's OKAY to have it without all the
illustrations.
> >
> > Now that I think it over, I can see that this is a slippery slope.
> > This is the reasoning of someone who is trying to make her dwindling
> > budget go as far as possible. Wouldn't this just increase confusion?
> > Wouldn't it consign the ebook to a lesser status in relation to the
> > print? What is the book anyway? Shouldn't the author be deciding in
> > conjunction with the editor which illustrations should be included? If
> > the illustrations are lacking, doesn't that change the nature of the
> > book? And what about cost?
> >
> > Where is the answer? I would love to hear your thoughts and so would
> > my publisher.
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > Helen
> >
> > Helen Anderson
Received on Sat Apr 03 2010 - 03:02:28 EDT