(no subject)

[pensnest]

Am astonished to learn (via browsing at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books) that authors in the USA whose books are lent from public libraries receive *no* compensation.

Weird.

My cat is snoring. It is quite melodious.

UK popslashers - who among you is interested in visiting my Nest at the end of the month for a sparkly weekend?

Comments

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

O_o They're NOT?! That's just wrong.

My cat is purring.

[pensnest]

Isn't it funny how parts of our world-view turn out to be 'local' instead of universal. I just assumed that all libraries worked that way.

My cat is now nagging for her dinner. Sigh.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Nope, which is why I generally do not borrow from libraries. If possible, I prefer to buy my books.

[pensnest]

Interesting. I hardly ever use the library nowadays, because I can afford to buy books that look interesting. But I know the authors get compensation when their books are read from the library, and that seems only fair.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

It does, but I don't think it's even crossed their minds over on this side of the puddle. Everyone I know is all "get it at your library!" and while libraries are great, I have enough writers on my list that I'm like "No.... I'll buy it, thanks" since the ones I do know get monies from the sales.

[carta.livejournal.com]

That is interesting. I am checking with my librarian friends to see what they have to say on this. I'd always assumed that the authors (or really, the publishing companies) sold some kind of license to lend to the libraries. I can't imagine Tiny Library in Small Town, USA having the funds to compensate every author for every book lent out.

[pensnest]

This is where we come from totally different assumptions! Our libraries don't work like that - at any rate, the fund that pays the authors is a centrally administered and government-funded one. Not taken out of the budget of each local library.

It's quite interesting reading the comment thread at SBTB, some of the US responders get quite agitated at the idea of OMG taxpayers' money being used in this way, whereas the Europeans are all - you don't? Whut?

[carta.livejournal.com]

I suspect that the books don't circulate nearly as much as one would assume, too. Probably about as often per copy as when friends share books with each other (I know there are a few books in my personal library that have been passed around from friend to friend). Since the libraries purchase the books, the authors get compensated the same as they do when I buy a book and then lend it to friends.

But yeah, our library system is run on the local level. Lots of books are donated, as well, and the libraries can have big sales where you can buy older books from their collection on the cheap, with all funds going to support the library.

[pensnest]

I have vaguely got the impression that a US library might be likely to be more copies of a popular book (eg Harry Potter anything) than a UK library would. Perhaps that would balance out the authors' income anyway.

[carta.livejournal.com]

It really depends on the library. A small one may only have the budget for a couple of copies. Not everything in the States is huge; we are a country of a few big cities and many many small towns. The library on the island I grew up on barely had anything, and only one or two copies of the popular books. They just didn't have the money.

[phaballa.livejournal.com]

Well, but our libraries our funded on a local level, and each library could be funded in a completely different way. THere are county systems and city systems and township systems and community systems. There's no central, federal system for funding libraries and in order to nationalize it, they'd have to pass a constitutional amendment the way they did to nationalize federal funds for roads.

Besides which, it's unconstitutional for libraries to release records of which books have been checked out, and trying to get a circulation count for each book would be next to impossible for small libraries that aren't automatized yet (ie don't have computer check out). Since I've worked at several different kinds of libraries in a couple different states, I know exactly how hard that is and how much resources it would take for a small library to count circs like that.

[carta.livejournal.com]

they'd have to pass a constitutional amendment

And thinking back on the uproar over the Patriot Act a few years ago, I can't see that happening any time soon ever.

[phaballa.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. Librarians are fiercely protective of the right to privacy! They won't give up their names for the Patriot Act, and good for them! Of course, if they managed to nationalize the library system, the funding issues we have right now (at least in Texas) might not be as bad. But Americans are fiercely protective of their federalism, and I can't really see that happening anytime soon.

Anyway, all this is really just an argument over the difference in fair use law in the US as opposed to the UK.

[pensnest]

Federalism is another thing that we tend to fail to take into account, here; although we are, strictly speaking, four countries in one United Kingdom, we're not nearly as different (I don't think) as your states are, and things are far more likely to be done nationally. (Or possibly I see it that way because I'm English, and actually the Scots in particular have systems that are quite different in a lot of ways.)

[phaballa.livejournal.com]

Yes, every state has a different way of setting up libraries and a different method for funding them, just like every state used to have different drinking ages. The only way the federal government managed to force all 50 states to agree on 21 as the drinking age was to cut off federal funds for roads from every state that didn't comply. Otherwise they'd have had to pass a constitutional amendment that would've had to be ratified by 2/3rds of the states, and that's a very hard thing to get. It's why there aren't a lot of constitutional amendments, and most controversial policy in the US is decided by legislation, which is then challenged in the courts and either holds up or not.

And remember, it might only take a few million in the UK, but you're talking a population of 60 million compared to a population of 300 million. Our school system isn't even nationalized. It's depressing as shit :/

Anyway, as long as our fair use laws remain as they are, authors aren't going to get royalties from library book circulations beyond the initial buying of the book. The US government isn't going to justify paying for something just to be nice, and not because they *have* to.

[puszysty.livejournal.com]

Well, considering the only money libraries earn is from late fees, I don't know where libraries would even get the money. No way the government would agree to it.
They compensate in the UK? How does that work?

[pensnest]

Government agrees to it... I believe there's a system that keeps track of what is lent out, and there's a central fund that pays the authors. It's a few pence per book, with a cap of £6,600 - so *huge* authors like Catherine Cookson don't get vast amounts, which is okay because their books sell anyway, and minor authors probably don't starve.

[nopseud]

who among you is interested in visiting my Nest at the end of the month for a sparkly weekend?

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

No, wait, you knew that already. Still, didn't want you to think I wasn't keen :-)

[pensnest]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy! ;-)

[phaballa.livejournal.com]

Authors don't get royalties from library books, no. But no one makes any money off of library books. The library buys the books with public funds (usually tax money or grants, depending on where the library is) and patrons check the books out. There's no cost to borrowing the book or joining the library, so I'm not sure what the author would get royalties from.

[pensnest]

Well, our library users don't pay to join the library or to borrow books either (though there's usually a charge for borrowing DVDs, videos or CDs). The royalties are paid from a central government fund. It doesn't amount to much, only a handful of millions, but it must be a real help to authors who don't generate mega-sales but do get steadily read via libraries.

[rikes]

Me!! Unfortunately I don't quite qualify for the UK part...

[pensnest]

You are very welcome to come!

[rikes]

I feel crazy for even thinking about it. Have you decided the date yet?

[pensnest]

31 Jan/1 Feb

Not crazy at all!

[without-me.livejournal.com]

Whereas those of us in the U.S., I venture to say, are astonished at the idea that in some places authors do receive compensation based on library use (beyond the initial purchase price of the book, that is). Not that I'm against it--but the idea never would have occurred to me.

[pensnest]

Yep - like I commented to Turlough, above, it's more really a case of seeing where our vocabulary is the same, but our worlds are actually that bit different, so what we mean when we say 'library service' is not quite the same thing you mean. It's the assumption that lies behind it - I find it interesting that it's Britain and Europe (and probably Commonwealth countries too, I suspect) rather than the US that pay authors a 'royalty', as compensation for the fact that their books are being read without being bought.

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

Though I think it'd be even crazier for me to even think about it. *sigh*

[pensnest]

*sniffs*

You'll have to have your own sparkly get-together.

[saba1789.livejournal.com]

*makes grabby hands* Want UK popslashers, too! :(

[pensnest]

You can also haz invitation!

[saba1789.livejournal.com]

I'm unfortunately already going home to visit the parents that weekend :( . But thank you so much for the invitation, hon! ♥

It needs to be Camp Sparkle time NOW! *WANTS*

[adelate]

Me! Oh, wait. :(

[pensnest]

You'd be very welcome!

Camp Sparkle's not *too* far away...

[adelate]

I know, and I love that we chose May because it's a lovely time of year, but I can't help wishing it was already here! I miss everybody. :P

Have a fantastic time! :)