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Comment by initplus | Hacker News Reader

It's not disruption to make me wait 5 weeks to read a digital file through my local library's Libby service. It's an outdated business model using artificial scarcity that isn't effective at getting books onto readers devices. Spotify doesn't make me take out a hold on the artist I want to listen to. Netflix doesn't make me queue to watch the latest release.

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Netflix has licensing restrictions too, but the limitation is time/exclusivity (rather than number of copies). You can only watch whatever Netflix owns distribution rights to. Although Netflix does charge more per device, so that's a bit like charging per "copy" of their service on top of the limited distribution.

I'm wondering if you'd really prefer a library system where you could get some titles instantly, but the majority of content is unavailable because some other digital service provider owns distribution in your region for the next 12-16 months. I'd hate that, personally.

I don't think it's fair to compare Netflix and Spotify to libraries; you pay for the first two.

I agree that it's artificial scarcity and it's hard to feel bad for the publishing companies

We pay for libraries through taxes, it’s just that they’re considered a public good so important that everyone has to contribute to pay for them.

I do pay for my library card, because my city doesn't have a library (unless you count bookmobile), and the nearby cities that do have libraries charge you to get a library card if you aren't a resident. And it is approx. $9.99/mo.

Wow... mine is $25/year. I live in a rural county, but work across the border in a less rural county, with a much bigger library system. For $25/year I get access to probably 10x as much stuff through them. I expect it might go to $30 this year.

Public libraries are paid for through public taxation.

Which suggests a possible solution the the greater problem.

Depends completely where you are. My library would cost €60/year.

https://www.oba.nl/service/word-lid.html

All the replies are missing the point.

Netflix and Spotify make a fuck ton of money. The library doesn't. As always it's the publishers you should be pissed at.

> outdated business model

It's NOT a business!

The reason Spotify and Netflix don't make you wait is because they give the copyright owners money for views. A library does not, nor do I think they should.

The current business model of selling libraries ebooks that can only be viewed a max number of times before needing to be repurchased, or only for a limited amount of time, is a money grab pure and simple.

> It's not disruption to make me wait 5 weeks to read a digital file

That seems very much like a disruption to me. In the "interruption to the regular flow or sequence of something" meaning of the word.

Every time I want to try a book I open up Libby and then get angry about this stupidity.

So I just go to the better library - genesis, which is free and unlimited.

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