[Response followed by original post.]
RE: illustrations in humanities ebooks (response 1)
From: "Lange, Janice" <LIB_JPL_at_SHSU.EDU>
We are not talking about options on car models (do you want that with a V-8 or V-4 engine,
with or without air conditioning?), but this is a Book. Presumably, if the original book
contained illustrations, they were included for a purpose - to illustrate, clarify,
complement, or amplify the text. It is difficult to envision a publisher of the original
edition saying, "Illustrations are not needed in this book, but we will throw some in
anyway." I agree with the responder who said the non-illustrated version should be
sold for less; in addition, all omissions or distortions should be clearly indicated on
sales information, AND on the title page or verso of the reprinted text. For collection
development in my library, I want the e-version to be the whole book, not just pieces of
the original.
Janice Lange
Assistant Director
Newton Gresham Library
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2179
Phone: 936/294-1620
Fax: 936/294-3780
-----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 Thu Apr 08 2010 - 03:01:30 EDT