Library E-Books: Harper, OverDrive NetLibrary Ink Pact

HarperCollins has reached an agreement with OverDrive, the e-wholesaler and e-publishing vendor, and NetLibrary to make the 350 digital titles from its Perfectbound e-book imprint available to libraries for the first time. OverDrive is also teaming up with Fictionwise.com, an e-book retailer, to supply e-books to Fictionwise.com's Libwise, a program that makes downloadable e-books available to small libraries.

HarperCollins titles will now be a part of OverDrive's newly launched Digital Library Reserve (News, Jan. 13) and will be offered through NetLibrary. Steve Potash, CEO of OverDrive, expects that these titles will have a major impact on the e-book market for libraries. While nonfiction titles from major publishers (limited to access from laptops and desktop computers) have been available to libraries through NetLibrary, this deal will feature a broad selection of major authors and bestselling fiction offered to library patrons for the first time in DRM-protected formats downloadable to laptops, desktops and handheld devices.

"Many major publishers still do not offer their most popular fiction titles through libraries," said Potash. "I think now they'll see that they're leaving money on the table if they aren't circulating their e-books to libraries."

David Steinberger, president of corporate strategy for HarperCollins, said the agreement has "enormous potential. We believe that libraries will play a critical role in educating readers about the benefits of this developing format." NetLibrary v-p Rich Rosy agreed: "Libraries have been encouraging us to add more trade titles, and we commend HarperCollins for developing a program for libraries."

OverDrive's library program offers about 10,000 titles. The e-vendor went back to 400 publishers in its Content Reserve program and negotiated addendum agreements to allow the circulation of DRM-protected e-books. E-books are offered one per reader, and libraries must buy multiple copies to meet demand, just like a print book.

While OverDrive's Digital Library Reserve targets large public libraries, Fictionwise.com's Libwise program targets small libraries by offering collections of 50 to 100 e-books. Potash called Fictionwise.com "one of the quiet successes in e-book retailing. Their numbers show it."