As Boycotts Mount, Macmillan CEO Defends Library E-books Embargo - Publishers Weekly

Panzer had hardly entered the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was shaken by all the booing and yelling and hissing outside. It didn't take any effort to follow all the chaos and angst to the Publishers Weekly site. There our brave kitty pilot found a post about the latest news in the Macmillan library embargo. Panzer has been telling you about the embargo for several weeks now because our kitty boy is big supporter of libraries.

Just boycott all his books.

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, on November 4 Macmillan CEO John Sargent had a meeting with Chief Officers of State Library Agencies representatives after the library embargo went into effect. CEO Sargent told the assembled librarians the company will not stop the embargo. He continues to stand behind his claim libraries are responsible for the company's sales losses. The embargo prohibits libraries from purchasing more than one copy of Macmillan's ebooks until two months after the book's publication date. The number of libraries joining a boycott of Macmillan ebooks started by the King Country Library System in Washington state is growing and is said to be in the "dozens" of libraries now. It should be noted, however, that some of the libraries boycotting the ebooks are instead purchasing more hardcover editions. Instead of punishing Macmillan for the embargo, purchasing more hardcovers rewards the company. There are nine links to other information about the embargo included in the post.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... You can't buy our ebooks, but we'll sell you all the hardcover books you want to buy. That pile of stinky stuff just keeps getting higher."

Note: This is a h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s post. Bring a gallon of tea and a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow all the links in the post, bring two gallons of tea, three dozen muffins and a dozen chocolate chip cookies (biscuits). You should also bring a portable cooking stove to make your dinner.

To read the post tootle over to Macmillan CEO

To read Panzer's post from two days ago, tootle over to Macmillan library embargo

Major Public Library System Will Boycott Macmillan E-books - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer's trip into the Catosphere took him to the Publishers Weekly site. With no digging at all our intrepid kitty traveler found a post about publisher Macmillan's embargo on ebook sales to libraries.

The post by  Andrew Albanese contains information about the embargo impasse by publisher Macmillan against public libraries. Panzer already told you about Macmillan's plans to limit library ebook purchases to a single copy of a new ebook release for the first two months after publication. The newest development in this embargo involves a boycott of Macmillan's ebooks. The King County Library System, located in Washington state, won't purchase new ebook releases from Macmillan. The library has a patron friendly rule that readers won't have to wait more than three months for a book they've requested. Since Macmillan is not letting libraries buy more than one ebook for the first two months after publication, patrons wouldn't get the requested book within the three month time frame; so, the library system simply won't buy the ebook at all. There's more information about how the boycott will work included in the post. The post contains several links including one at the end with information about a pettheition signed by over 100,000 people asking Macmillan to stop the library embargo.

Somebody has to stand up against a bully.

Panzer says, "This little kitty was waiting for a boycott to happen, but he didn't know it would be his own local library system that would be the one to start it."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links included in the post, bring at least a gallon of tea and two muffins. If you plan to follow the link to Panzer's previous post (and the link in that post and the link in that post and the link in that post), bring a lot more tea and muffins and some cookies, too, because this has been a long ongoing problem with Macmillan.

To read the post tootle over to boycott Macmillan
To read the Panzer's previous post about the embargo, tootle over to librarians' national campaign