Libraries struggle to afford the demand for e-books and seek new state laws in fight with publishers - AP

Publishers raise the prices every year.

Panzer's post today is going to be short. We lost electricity last night and didn't get it back until late today. Let's just say things are a mess right now. With said, here's today's news.

 

On a quick trip to the AP news site Panzer discovered libraries are experiencing problems with ebooks and audiobook publishers again.

 

According to a post by Susan Haigh, the costs of publishers' ebooks and audiobook are forcing libraries to cut into their budgets. Libraries are also cutting back on the number of ebooks and audiobooks they can get for patrons as well as how long they can afford to offer them.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders if it's to publishers advantage to keep libraries from loaning the books to force patrons to buy the publishers' book to read it?"

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to read today's selection.

To read the post tootle over to Libraries and Ebook Publishers

Nora Roberts sues Brazilian author, cites 'multi-plagiarism' - AP News

Panzer was shaken from his kitty bed by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile, our speedy kitty boy followed all the noise to the AP News site. With a little digging he found a post about bestselling author Nora Roberts.

You will get caught.

According to Hillel Italie, Nora Roberts has sued Brazilian author Cristiane Serruya. Author Nora Roberts alleges in her suit filed in Brazil that Cristiane Serruya plagiarized her work multiple times. Serruya has said ghost writers she was using did the plagiarizing, but she's still selling the books in question. Amazon removed the books after Roberts notified them of the offenses, but other sites are still selling them.

Panzer says, "You steal it, you still have to pay the price eventually."

Note: This is a h-u-g-e post. Bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Nora Roberts

Local governments won't say what they're offering Amazon - AP News

Today's trip took Panzer to the AP News (Associated Press) site. There with no digging at all he found a post about Amazon's second headquarters (HQ2).

According to the post by Josh Cornfield, Amazon has promised to choose the location for their second headquarters (HQ2) by the end of this year. By the 2017 deadline 238 proposals were received  from different states, cities and districts in North America. Each is hoping to get Amazon's promised 50,000 jobs. They're willing to give Amazon tax breaks, grants and incentives to get those jobs, but most are not willing to discuss they're individual offers. The post names three cities who were willing to disclose their offers. The other states,cities and districts either refused (for different reasons) to disclose anything or didn't bother to respond.

I've got an answer for any problem.

Panzer says, "Why do humans have all these big secrets from each other about what they're doing to woo Amazon? Everybody knows, nothing says I love you like a dead mouse on the pillow in the morning."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon