Does anyone offer ebooks in their church library? I would like to do this, but have no idea where to start. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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Deanna King > Buford CarterDecember 17, 2011 12:46
Buford, thanks for the article - will read it soon and investigate.
Have you looked into it very much?
Especially to see how many Christian titles are in there?
I'm also wondering if you plan to use this service and if you do, please let us know how it progresses in 2012.
I certainly can see our library sending high quality books that we weed out because of duplicates to them for the sake of getting good Christian content in there.
That's a fair question, Buford, and one that should be considered before we all 'jump in.' In my conversations with Overdrive, I understood their per-title cost to be some what higher than the competitive retail market price.
While I don't really like that, I think there is precedent in the traditional library market. Because libraries expect high usage for their books, some purchase titles with "library (sturdy) bindings" at a premium cost. While our church library doesn't do that, we do add protective covers our books. That imposes some extra cost just because it is a "high use" library book. To me, therefore, It doesn't seem too out-of-line to pay a more for an eBook title. Ebooks are 'high usage" items, they just don't show "wear and tear."
Another good question: If a church drops out of the consortium, it forfeits access to the collection and to the titles it purchased. The church's titles, however, remain in the consortium collection.
"Will we see virtual church libraries with no physical facilities?" Personally, I find that a scary thought. How do we minister to our members without the face-to-face contact? I don't know the answer to that, but I know God is capable of making it work in ways I've never imagined.
For the foreseeable future, I expect we will keep our traditional libraries and provide the eBook services within that context. Our church library ministry will continue to grow and evolve as we discover just what God has in mind.
While we have lost quite a few to e-books, we still gain new patrons every week. We have many, many families who like actual books with paper pages. Maybe one day physical libraries will be gone - - - or they will be computer terminals but I think we have quite a few more years to go before that happens - - - at least I hope so.
I agree with everything you said. Give me a book that you can touch, feel, smell, and hear when you turn the pages. I wonder what Andrew Carnegie or Benjamin Franklin or Melville Dewey would say about the E-Books ??
I am excited about possibly forming a consortium here in Southern California, perhaps in conjunction with BIOLA or another Christian university.
I don't think the $750 rate would be unattainable for any church regardless of budget - my suggestion is that you maintain the regular collection for all your users, but have a separate fee-based subcription for your library users who have the Kindle or whatever to download the book. I would have a one month promotion with information, and get folks interested. Develop a list of prospective users and let them know that the more members you can line up, the lower the individual annual fee will be per person. Remember that these are folks who have invested in the technology, and will be BUYING the books electronically unless & until they can "borrow" them from their church library, so it's not as if they can't afford to participate, and they will be saving money in the short run!
For example, if you have 25 people who want to participate, charge a first year fee of $30 per person (or household?), which gives you the $750 you need. If you have additional people who sign up later, you can prorate it any way you wish, but decide that in advance and have it in writing in your use policy. For ease of annual renewal, try to have all your subscriptions end in the last month and begin reminding folks to renew about 3 months before the end of the year.
If you start out with your full fee of $750 covered, then all the folks' fees that sign up after the first period can go into a (carry-over) fund for the following year. You can use those fees to reduce people's renewal price the 2nd year OR you can use the extra for other library needs!
I would also approach your church board and see if the board is willing to sponsor at least part of the fee since it may be likely that they will use the resources the most frequently of any members.
I would also keep a record of any ebook that is checked out frequently that is not just a flash hot pick that fades out quickly - perhaps it is a title that you would want a permanent copy of in the regular library holding as well. Keep in mind that ebook suppliers don't have "stock" in the traditional manner, so if they drop an ebook, it's gone. That's fine for current hot reads but for reference works or other books you expect to have call for over many years, you may also want a copy on your shelves.
The problem with this is that it costs less to get their own personal subscription to audiobook or something. My local public library offers kindles for check out, so also people would go to something like that over paying for my library fee. For some the overdrive cost is still unattainable, if it still sits at 750. I have looked at the website, however, and can't seem to find a price or library sign up sheet anywhere.
Peter Chow > Joanne LadewigDecember 14, 2011 12:08
I'd be interested in joining this consortium. We are in Northern California. Do you know if such a consortium has been created? This idea is very intriguing and I would definitely join something like this.
I'm the church librarian for San Jose Christian Alliance Church - www.sjcac.org. We have about 1000 members in our congregations. I've been the church librarian for the past 14 months. Currently, not too many people uses the library. But I think if we can get this ebook going, it will generate lots of interest. Would love to hear about your library and how far along you are in providing ebooks to your members.
THANKS for all the information on this. I was excited to see the information on Overdrive. Our church members want the capability to download Christian books. I am going to present this to our administrator and see what they think about this idea. The consortium is a phenomenal idea. I sure hope it catches on.
Replies
Buford, thanks for the article - will read it soon and investigate.
Have you looked into it very much?
Especially to see how many Christian titles are in there?
I'm also wondering if you plan to use this service and if you do, please let us know how it progresses in 2012.
I certainly can see our library sending high quality books that we weed out because of duplicates to them for the sake of getting good Christian content in there.
That's a fair question, Buford, and one that should be considered before we all 'jump in.' In my conversations with Overdrive, I understood their per-title cost to be some what higher than the competitive retail market price.
While I don't really like that, I think there is precedent in the traditional library market. Because libraries expect high usage for their books, some purchase titles with "library (sturdy) bindings" at a premium cost. While our church library doesn't do that, we do add protective covers our books. That imposes some extra cost just because it is a "high use" library book. To me, therefore, It doesn't seem too out-of-line to pay a more for an eBook title. Ebooks are 'high usage" items, they just don't show "wear and tear."
Another good question: If a church drops out of the consortium, it forfeits access to the collection and to the titles it purchased. The church's titles, however, remain in the consortium collection.
"Will we see virtual church libraries with no physical facilities?" Personally, I find that a scary thought. How do we minister to our members without the face-to-face contact? I don't know the answer to that, but I know God is capable of making it work in ways I've never imagined.
For the foreseeable future, I expect we will keep our traditional libraries and provide the eBook services within that context. Our church library ministry will continue to grow and evolve as we discover just what God has in mind.
While we have lost quite a few to e-books, we still gain new patrons every week. We have many, many families who like actual books with paper pages. Maybe one day physical libraries will be gone - - - or they will be computer terminals but I think we have quite a few more years to go before that happens - - - at least I hope so.
I agree with everything you said. Give me a book that you can touch, feel, smell, and hear when you turn the pages. I wonder what Andrew Carnegie or Benjamin Franklin or Melville Dewey would say about the E-Books ??
I am excited about possibly forming a consortium here in Southern California, perhaps in conjunction with BIOLA or another Christian university.
I don't think the $750 rate would be unattainable for any church regardless of budget - my suggestion is that you maintain the regular collection for all your users, but have a separate fee-based subcription for your library users who have the Kindle or whatever to download the book. I would have a one month promotion with information, and get folks interested. Develop a list of prospective users and let them know that the more members you can line up, the lower the individual annual fee will be per person. Remember that these are folks who have invested in the technology, and will be BUYING the books electronically unless & until they can "borrow" them from their church library, so it's not as if they can't afford to participate, and they will be saving money in the short run!
For example, if you have 25 people who want to participate, charge a first year fee of $30 per person (or household?), which gives you the $750 you need. If you have additional people who sign up later, you can prorate it any way you wish, but decide that in advance and have it in writing in your use policy. For ease of annual renewal, try to have all your subscriptions end in the last month and begin reminding folks to renew about 3 months before the end of the year.
If you start out with your full fee of $750 covered, then all the folks' fees that sign up after the first period can go into a (carry-over) fund for the following year. You can use those fees to reduce people's renewal price the 2nd year OR you can use the extra for other library needs!
I would also approach your church board and see if the board is willing to sponsor at least part of the fee since it may be likely that they will use the resources the most frequently of any members.
I would also keep a record of any ebook that is checked out frequently that is not just a flash hot pick that fades out quickly - perhaps it is a title that you would want a permanent copy of in the regular library holding as well. Keep in mind that ebook suppliers don't have "stock" in the traditional manner, so if they drop an ebook, it's gone. That's fine for current hot reads but for reference works or other books you expect to have call for over many years, you may also want a copy on your shelves.
The problem with this is that it costs less to get their own personal subscription to audiobook or something. My local public library offers kindles for check out, so also people would go to something like that over paying for my library fee. For some the overdrive cost is still unattainable, if it still sits at 750. I have looked at the website, however, and can't seem to find a price or library sign up sheet anywhere.
I'd be interested in joining this consortium. We are in Northern California. Do you know if such a consortium has been created? This idea is very intriguing and I would definitely join something like this.
Hi, Peter!
I'm part of a southern CA chapter, with Joanne, of the ECLA, The Evangelical Church Library Association.
Please tell us something about you and your church library - we'd love to get to know more California librarians!
Hi Deanna,
I'm the church librarian for San Jose Christian Alliance Church - www.sjcac.org. We have about 1000 members in our congregations. I've been the church librarian for the past 14 months. Currently, not too many people uses the library. But I think if we can get this ebook going, it will generate lots of interest. Would love to hear about your library and how far along you are in providing ebooks to your members.
Thanks,
Peter
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