Ingram, ALA Announce Leadership Cohort Program - Press Release on Publishers Daily

I love the library. It's really cool inside.

While at Publishers Daily site Panzer found another press release. This one is about Ingram and the ALA starting a leadership program for librarians.

 

Note: This is a very short post. You don't need to bring anything to snack on.

 

To read the press release tootle over to Ingram Library Services

Changes Loom as Public Libraries Begin to Reopen - Publishers Weekly

As Panzer was napping, he was rudely shaken from his kitty bed by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Dragging his poor little kitty self into the Panzermobile, he headed out. Following all the hullabaloo took him to the Publishers Weekly site. There with no digging at all he found a post about libraries reopening was causing all the noise.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, libraries will be reopening soon. A survey done by the American Library Association (ALA) found that 37 percent of the libraries that responded planned to begin "phase reopening" in June or July. Reopening won't be as it was before Covid-19. It means libraries will need to be rearranged to provide social distancing and staff will need masks and gloves. During the pandemic library users took advantage of digital book checkout, but now a lot of users want to go back to libraries for hands-on books (paperbacks and hardbacks). This post contains several links to information about libraries, the lockdowns, digital books, budgets, and other information.

Now ... About that nap.

Panzer says, "MeWoW! Libraries are going to open again!"

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of tea and six muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring a gallon of tea and gallon of water and two dozen muffins, plus your lunch.

To read the post tootle over to public libraries

ALA Midwinter 2020: Macmillan CEO John Sargent, Librarians Spar Over E-book Embargo - Publishers Weekly

Today when Panzer entered the Catosphere he was greeted by screaming and crying and gnashing of teeth. Following all the chaos took our brave kitty boy to the Publishers Weekly site. Digging in the posts produced one about publisher Macmillan and the company's library embargo. Panzer has been telling you about this ebooks to libraries slowdown since before it was started.

He's joking right?

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, publishing company Macmillan CEO John Sargent says there's no end in sight for Macmillan's library embargo. CEO Sargent was speaking at the American Library Association midwinter meeting when he reiterated he had no intentions of changing the company's library embargo. He continues to blame library patrons for Macmillan's lagging book sales. To fix the problem with library patrons checking Macmillan's books out of the library and reading them for free, now Macmillan only allows a library to license one copy of an ebook for the first two months after its publication. This causes long wait times for library patrons who want to read the book. CEO Sargent believes this will force library patrons to instead buy a copy of the book to read it. The post includes several links to previous posts about Macmillan's ongoing embargo against libraries.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty is confused. ... When did libraries start to control a publisher's book pricing, book marketing and book store placement? ... Aren't those some of the real controlling factors for book sales? ... Aren't those the things the publisher controls?"

Note: This post is h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s-l-y long. Bring two gallons of tea, three dozen muffins, a sleeping bag for a nap in the middle and a cook stove for dinner for today's reading selection and all the included links in the post.

To read the post tootle over to Libraries and Macmillan embargo continues
To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Macmillan

Libraries Take E-Book Lending Fight into Antitrust Territory - Copyright and Technology

Today, Panzer decided to make a stop at the Copyright and Technology site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive, traveling kitty found one about the libraries' on-going fight with Macmillan and other ebook publishers. Panzer told you about the problems which brought about this dispute last week.

Bill Rosenblatt's post addresses the American Library Association's (ALA) problems with access to ebooks from the major publishers. Publisher Macmillan announced earlier this year it would start a two month embargo on libraries' access to new ebooks. Since Macmillan's announcement the ALA complained to the publisher, started a library patrons' petition and most recently sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee is investigating antitrust/anticompetition allegations against major corporations. In the letter to the House Judiciary Committee the ALA also presented the fact Amazon doesn't make its books available to libraries. In his post, Mr. Rosenblatt points out Amazon does allow Prime members to have access to, "check out," read ebooks and then "return" them. There are so many links included in this post, that this little kitty gave up counting them.

My head is starting to hurt.

Panzer says, "This fight is just getting more and more complicated."

Note: This is long, long post. Bring a cup of tea, a cup of hot cocoa, and three muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links included in the post, bring a thermos of tea, a thermos of cocoa, and two dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to libraries e-book lending

To read Panzer previous post about the letter to the Judiciary Committee, tootle over to Congress

Congress Looking into Anticompetitive Behavior in the Digital Library Market - Publishers Weekly

Today, Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There our speedy kitty boy found a post about the American Library Association and publisher Macmillan's embargo. Panzer has been telling you about Macmillan's two month embargo on new ebooks sales to libraries since it was announced.

Libraries can get my ebooks.

According to Andrew Albanese, the embargo has taken an unexpected turn. The American Library Association (ALA) has taken their digital book distribution problem with publisher Macmillan to the United States Congress. In a letter to an antitrust subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, the ALA explained the detrimental effects to the library systems caused by Macmillan's actions. The ALA also says Amazon Publishing refuses to sell ebooks to libraries. There are several links to other posts about the ALA's ongoing dispute with Macmillan and with Amazon included in the post.

Panzer says, "This little kitty didn't know libraries were fighting with Amazon too."

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring a gallon of tea and three dozen muffins, a sleeping bag for a nap, and a camp stove to cook your dinner on.

To read the post tootle over to digital library market

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to public library system

Librarians Launch National Campaign to Oppose Macmillan's Library E-book Embargo - Publishers Weekly

Today as Panzer was sweeping the mats in the Panzermobile, he found a wadded up post under the passenger seat. Spreading it flat, our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was from the Publishers Weekly site about publisher Macmillan's library embargo.

According to Andrew Albanese's post, the American Library Association (ALA) has started a campaign to convince publisher Macmillan to lift the ebook embago against libraries. Part of the campaign is an online petition for library supporters to sign. Panzer told you a few days ago about Macmillan's new policy not to allow libraries to buy copies of the publisher's new ebooks until two months after publication. There are several links included in the post, including one to the petition and one to the ALA's new book club.

It's simple.  Macmillan is a bully.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This kitty wonders, if library patrons don't buy any of Macmillan's books until after the embargo is over, maybe the publisher would end it sooner."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a large size travel mug of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post and follow the links in it, bring an extra gallon of tea and six muffins and six chocolate chip cookies.

To read the post tootle over to Macmillan's library ebook embargo

To read Panzer's earlier post tootle over to Macmillan