There’s a continuing pattern that gives us clues about the end of the DVD format. Of course, there are still niche markets for vinyl and tape. They’re very small markets.
Internet Braces For Stream-Only Netflix
“The U.S. Postal Service is cutting back on one-day delivery, and the decision has many wondering if the days of shipping and receiving those red Netflix envelopes are nearly over.
Netflix is downplaying any rumors of its imminent DVD demise. Spokesman Steve Swasey said the company is going to work, somehow, with the Postal Service to “minimize impact on Netflix members who receive DVDs by mail.” But the company will go streaming-only in the U.S. “at some point in the future,” Swasey says. He just won’t say when. CEO Reed Hastings recently described the DVD business as being in “a slow decline over the next, well, many years.””
So, we need to ask ourselves:
1. Many public libraries have significant circulation in DVDs. What scenario would ensure public library success? Can they acquire the right to downloads and circulate hard copy DVDs? Can they offer streaming databases of collections?
2. Is there any scenario that offers a positioning for public libraries to thrive? What actions would be neccessary – public policy, licensing, collaboration, consortia, metadata, recommendations, reviews,etc.?
3. Is there a metaphor here for e-books with a slightly longer timeline? Many public libraries have their primary circulation in print fiction. What scenario would ensure public library success? Can they acquire the right to downloads and distributed access? Can ALL publishers of fiction be brought on side? With key library cardholder market niches adopting e-books faster than others, what scenario offers a positioning for public libraries to thrive? What actions would be neccessary – public policy, licensing, collaboration, consortia, metadata, recommendations, etc.?
2012 will be tipping point year for all e-content access.
Will the Internet go through another bottleneck issue for access – like the old AOL issues of memories past – becuase of increased media streaming?
Stephen
5 Responses
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The problem is that theborrowing models most vendors offer libraries, at least for ebooks, are not comparable to, say, the Amazon/Kindle consumer model. Hundreds of Amazon users can read the same title on a Kindle for a few dollars apiece; libraries must, using Overdrive, buy multiple copies of a title, 1 to a customer. I suspect this will be the case for streaming media as well.
The disc itself will live on in rural service areas as satellite internet remains prohibitively expensive and cable providers rarely wire sparse communities (e.g. 1 per sq. mile). Smartphones and 3G are as possible as a trip to Mars. When many of my patrons barely have dial-up (called DSL but <400Kbps), I don't need to provide streaming services, but finding a way to keep discs healthy would be useful.
Gerald:
Not really true. A kindle user can lend his or her e-book to 1 or 2 friends and then the DRM kicks in, not hundreds. You can also lend your kindle as whole to a friend but then you don’t have it (and it’s all your books not just one like print). Hopefully your friend returns your kindle faster than they return a lent print book!
Secondly, the major fiction publishers have disallowed Amazon to let any of their titles be included in the Kindle library lending program.
Third, there are plenty of differences between Kindle lending and library lending of e-books. Overdrive is not the only model. For example my employer’s (Gale) model allows for unlimited, simultaneous use and lending on any device (EPUB, PDF, Kindle, PC, Mac, etc.) of our titles.
It’s a shame that libraries have focused so completely on the Overdrive and Amazon proprietary model and quote it so extensively and ignore other successful e-book models when pointing to options that users can have. Albeit, our’s is mostly non-fiction and reference oriented but it’s a model that’s woked for many years as well. It could be applied to other genres.
Stephen
Jennifer: We heard the same arguments that letter writing would flourish in rural areas when the telephone was fanning out. And yes there are still pockets of bad telephone service. I agree that the present internet access in the US is Swiss cheese. I think that will gradually fade and that the commercial viability of serving very small niche markets for DVD will become unsustainable. I hope that burning DVDs in libraries will be allowed to service those who need it.
Stephen
Thank you, Stephen. I’m lucky to work at a library with the Gale references online, and anxiously awaiting the tablet that can replace my nook so I may surf the references online–though I’ll still have to download the mushroom identifier chapters when I go hiking out of area. I hope that hiking areas always remain “no service” zones. Smile.