Macmillan Can't Adapt to the Market, So It's Forcing Customers to Adopt to It - The Digital Reader

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he decided to make a stop at The Digital Reader site. With a little digging in the posts there he found one about the Macmillan embargo of libraries. Our studious kitty boy has been updating you on this issue every since it started. Under the Macmillan is only allowing libraries to purchase one copy of a newly published ebook until two months after its publication.

Where does he get his information?

In The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder's post, he explains why he believes Macmillan CEO John Sargent is making unsubstantiated claims about library patrons and their ebook use. CEO Sargent believes if library patrons can't get an ebook in a timely manner at the library, 8 percent of those patron will buy a hardcover copy of the book. According to Mr. Hoffelder's analysis, the publishing company appears to be functioning under a pre-ebook mentality. As he points out, Macmillan is trying to sell books to and through bookstores, instead of to book buyers. This is probably why Macmillan's sales are down and not to libraries or their patrons. There is a link included in the post to a press release issued earlier this month by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies about CEO Sargent's appearance at a meeting with them.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Mom and What's His Name must not be part of CEO Sargent's 8 percent. If they can't find the ebook they want through the library, they just look for another ebook by somebody else. "

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a chocolate muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to read the second post, bring an extra cup of cocoa and another chocolate muffin.

To read the post tootle over to Macmillan

To read Panzer's previous post about Macmillan tootle over to Macmillan CEO