CNW: Canadian Public Libraries for Fair Ebook Pricing

“TORONTO, March 29, 2016 /CNW/ – Canadian Public Libraries for Fair Ebook Pricing continue to advocate for more reasonable prices and terms for ebooks from multinational publishers with an open letter to Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. Some multinational publishers charge libraries as much as three to five times more for ebooks than the consumer price, while others place caps and time limits on use. Current ebook pricing models lead to fewer titles and fewer copies for readers to discover, despite booming borrowing rates and high demand. Public libraries are key players in the publishing industry, both as major purchasers of books and ebooks, and promoters of reading and literacy. With the open letter, libraries are advocating for a pricing model that introduces fairness and flexibility, specifically: A hybrid of existing pricing models that would offer libraries of all sizes the ability to buy the number of copies and also the type of copies (perpetual or limited access) that meet their needs. The hybrid model includes: A reasonable premium price for ebook copies with ongoing and perpetual access, as the $85 and $100+ pricing is not sustainable. A lower price option for ebook copies with limited access because of time or use restrictions. This pricing should be slightly higher than the consumer price. Canadian Public Libraries for Fair Ebook Pricing joined forces in 2015 to inform library customers, government officials and the general public about this pressing issue. The campaign received media attention across North America, generated significant discourse on Twitter and Facebook with #FairEbookPrices, and has received the support of the...

Fair Ebook Pricing: Update and Twitter Chat

  Hello there, Thank you for helping us spread the word and advocate for more reasonable prices and terms for ebooks from multinational publishers. Your support is greatly appreciated. Our initial campaign received media attention across North America, generated significant discourse on Twitter and Facebook with#FairEbookPrices, and has received the support of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which passed a motion at its annual general meeting, calling on the federal government to take action. Public libraries welcomed Penguin Random House’s recently announced reduced ebook prices for libraries as a positive step in the right direction. This new pricing model will help public libraries achieve our goal of providing universal access to ebooks. So far, other multinational publishers have not adjusted their pricing. Today we sent out a press release with an open letter to Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster to advocate for a pricing model that introduces fairness and flexibility. We’d love for you to read and share this letter with your friends, colleagues and constituents on social media and beyond. We also invite you to take part in a Twitter chat on Thursday, March 31from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Vickery Bowles, Toronto Public Library City Librarian (@vbowlesTPL), Tim Tierney, Ottawa Public Library Board Chair (@TimTierney), and Sharon Karr, Manager, Collection Management & Access at Edmonton Public Library (@sharonkarr), will host the chat. Publishers, libraries, media, authors, government officials, library users and anyone interested in discussing this issue are invited to join with #FairEbookPrices. Thank you, Canadian Public Libraries for Fair Ebook...

Advance Your Skills—and Your Career: SJSU iSchool Open House in Toronto, Ontario

Advance Your Skills—and Your Career: SJSU iSchool Open House in Toronto, Ontario Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Learn all about the advancement options available to you online from the School of Information (iSchool) at San Jose State University. The iSchool will be holding an open house at the Ontario Library Association’s office on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. This special event is open to the public. Event details follow: Event:             iSchool Open House Date:               Wednesday, April 6, 2016 Time:              4:30 – 5:30 p.m. EDT Location:        Ontario Library Association Office 2 Toronto Street, 3rd Floor Toronto, Ontario During the one-hour session, Dr. Sandra Hirsh, iSchool professor and director, will provide an overview of the school’s curricula and describe the school’s award-winning online learning environment. Since all programs are delivered conveniently online, the iSchool is a top choice among Canadian students like Simon Lum and his 70+ student peers who also hail from Canada. The iSchool offers lifelong learning solutions, including two master’s degree programs. Library staff members and paraprofessionals may be especially interested in the school’s Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program, which is fully accredited by the American Library Association. Students can tailor the MLIS program to their interests and career goals, with the added benefit of earning an Advanced Certificate in Digital Assets and Services with no additional fees. For working professionals looking to update their skills and knowledge, the iSchool offers continuing education and professional development opportunities from master’s-level courses and a Post-Master’s Certificate program, to online seminars and the Library 2.0...

What is the difference between signing, ratification and accession of UN treaties?

Useful to know in the context of TPP and copyright treaties: What is the difference between signing, ratification and accession of UN treaties? http://ask.un.org/faq/14594 “The United Nations Treaty Collection website provides a Glossary of terms relating to Treaty actions. This text is taken from that Glossary: Signature ad Referendum A representative may sign a treaty “ad referendum”, i.e., under the condition that the signature is confirmed by his state. In this case, the signature becomes definitive once it is confirmed by the responsible organ. [Art.12 (2) (b), Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969] Signature Subject to Ratification, Acceptance or Approval Where the signature is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, the signature does not establish the consent to be bound. However, it is a means of authentication and expresses the willingness of the signatory state to continue the treaty-making process. The signature qualifies the signatory state to proceed to ratification, acceptance or approval. It also creates an obligation to refrain, in good faith, from acts that would defeat the object and the purpose of the treaty. [Arts.10 and 18, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969] Ratification Ratification defines the international act whereby a state indicates its consent to be bound to a treaty if the parties intended to show their consent by such an act. In the case of bilateral treaties, ratification is usually accomplished by exchanging the requisite instruments, while in the case of multilateral treaties the usual procedure is for the depositary to collect the ratifications of all states, keeping all parties informed of the situation. The institution of ratification grants states the...