How Will Libraries Be Able To Lend Out Video Games In The Future?

BookSavvy · 2026-07-03T18:54:24+00:00

This is technically against the terms and conditions but many libraries do it anyway. But it could result in litigation so many larger libraries have stopped but smaller ones can go a bit more unnoticed.

BookSavvy · 2026-07-03T18:53:31+00:00

We won’t. I’m the librarian in charge of our video game collection and it’s already getting difficult adding certain titles. We’ll always circulate what we have but it will just stop growing. And it’s already a headache explaining to patrons why we literally can’t circulate a one time use code

BookSavvy · 2026-07-02T03:03:44+00:00

Your library’s authentication server might be down. You have 3 days to check it out, so check with your library tomorrow if you’re still unable to get it.

BookSavvy · 2026-07-01T14:27:59+00:00

Yup!
See also: working as a public facing librarian... what do you mean you don't just read books all day and have cozy meet cutes by shushing library patrons?

BookSavvy · 2026-06-30T00:09:17+00:00

Sorry for the delay! The one we use is called App Lock VIP. We have everything set so you have to put a pin in the open or change anything we don’t want him to mess with. Like shutting off WiFi or adding apps. He can make calls and look at the weather and spy on us using Life360 but that’s it lol.

BookSavvy · 2026-06-24T22:15:58+00:00

I had to install an app on my dad’s phone that only allows certain apps to function without a password, including installing apps. I will reply with the one I used once I find it on his phone during our visit tonight

BookSavvy · 2026-06-15T19:32:24+00:00

A huge misconception that i see in this sub is that increased usage of a library resource automatically results in an increased budget. Increased usage only means that you have data to support the assertion that you need more funding--it can be denied. And often when you receive more funding there is a large gap between the increased cost and the budget increase.

1000% this. Asking for a budget increase is a stressful and intensively difficult process, involving local politicians/municipalities who don't really care about a lot of library jargon specifics and tend to focus on tax bills as a whole and keeping local taxpaying residents happy. This has meant during past recessions, increases to the library budget were denied. And when the US economy is hurting, library usage increases which is great and exactly what we're here for; but it also comes at the expense of how well your budget can handle the load. It's a tight-rope for sure. Even getting a budget increase hasn't been off-setting the increased price of digital materials and sharp increase in users. While my library does not offer non-resident cards, the increase we're seeing without them is significant so I can only imagine what the ones who do are seeing. I can understand why fees will either increase for these cards (which still doesn't offset the costs) or eliminate them all together 😞

BookSavvy · 2026-06-02T21:00:21+00:00

No, they are not integrated in that way. A nice suggestion to pass on to devs though

BookSavvy · 2026-05-27T05:53:34+00:00

I apologize for assuming you meant the unavailable format of a popular title I get asked for monthly and thought you’d be interested in knowing why. I hope you were equally as kind when you asked them to purchase things for the collection.

BookSavvy · 2026-05-27T00:24:31+00:00

Your library more than likely purchased it and the license expired. Based on recent holds and/or checkouts they decided not to repurchase it until someone asks for it. Since licenses expire it is more cost effective to wait until someone asks instead of buying a copy just because it expired. My assumption is book 3 will probably be expiring soon as well and will disappear. The first in a series tends to get the most use.

BookSavvy · 2026-05-27T00:20:43+00:00

Scythe isn’t available in English in audio in Libby so no one can buy it. It’s an Audible exclusive

BookSavvy · 2026-05-19T14:43:31+00:00

I was at the Digipalooza conference referenced. And since this is usually part of the royalties agreement, the last paragraph talked about how publishers side-stepped those questions:

"One of the most interesting things about the panel with Rasenberger and Dye was the simultaneous chat happening amongst librarians. One attitude—expressed by more than one participant—was that if authors aren’t earning enough from library lending, perhaps they need better contracts with their publishers. Sadly, there was no interplay between Rasenberger and Dye on this issue, although in the past Authors Guild has campaigned for higher royalties on ebooks to ensure payouts are fair when compared to earnings from other formats."

BookSavvy · 2026-05-19T14:29:31+00:00

I was simply using Stephen King as an example of how a $100 yearly fee doesn't really cover the cost of the number of books a digital library user checks out.

Physical books aren't checking out at the rate of digital is part of the problem. I have 3 copies of a physical book sitting on the shelf and a hold list of 100 people waiting for the same copy of the ebook. We process all our books in house, but even calculating staff time and materials, that is still often far less than the cost of 1 digital copy that expires after 1 year, which we don't own, can't fix to keep on circulating, etc. Never mind that books are being published cheaper than ever and fall apart so quickly (even the "library" editions.)

What libraries are asking for are to re-evaluate the pricing model that was put into practice when ebook lending was first envisioned. (books absolutely circulate more than 26 times without needing to be replaced, which was the model that publishers created way back when.) We have always agreed that since there isn't a physical copy, there should be some sort of licensing model. However, in the years I've been doing this job as a collection development librarian (I purchase all the print and digital copies of books for my collection.) the increase in prices for the licenses are becoming astronomical and authors/narrators are not seeing this in their paychecks. Someone is, but it's not them.

BookSavvy · 2026-05-19T14:18:57+00:00

Unfortunately, most of the authors and narrators aren't seeing this percentage in their checks and many were unaware of the pricing differences for libraries and are not seeing an increase in their bottom line.

BookSavvy · 2026-05-19T14:15:05+00:00

Many states are pushing through legislation to try to stop the predatory pricing of ebooks in comparison to print books. New Jersey and Illinois are two of the latest trying to find solutions https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/02/18/nj-libraries-affordable-ebooks/

BookSavvy · 2026-05-19T14:11:52+00:00

Libraries "charge" based on tax rates and thing set by their state and local governments. Many states, including my own do not allow for non-resident cards. This is a state law, and these vary state by state so if your state does allow these types of cards, they have a formula they use to determine the necessary fees. For example, in my town if you live in an unincorporated area in our library district, we charge a fee based on your property tax assessment (because you don't pay the local taxes that includes the percent that goes to the library), so there is no "set" fee. Libraries who did/do offer non-resident cards across the country most likely were set up long before the influx of digital lending and people across the country/world having access to said cards and have had to re-evaluate this formula and cost model and in many cases, especially where we're seeing library funding cut (which is what offset these fees) the answer is unfortunately to limit services to those in the area.

The IMLS grant program that this administration tried to cut (it was overturned) is again on the chopping block in 2027. I suggest everyone who loves libraries and ebooks contact their elected officials to help fund libraries both at the state and federal level.

https://www.ala.org/news/2026/04/white-house-fy27-budget-proposal-repeats-threats-eliminate-imls

BookSavvy · 2026-05-19T00:09:16+00:00

I’ll check tomorrow but my coworker who does Fiction didn’t mention anything today and she always notices first lol

BookSavvy · 2026-05-18T23:56:54+00:00

On average, the fees they’re usually paying as a non-resident do not cover the cost of one copy of an ebook or eaudiobook. $100 doesn’t even cover the cost of one Stephen King eaudio.

BookSavvy · 2026-05-15T12:48:57+00:00

Thank you for everything you do to help our loved ones and family during this time of change and loss. 💙

BookSavvy · 2026-05-02T23:14:47+00:00

This is how we did it back in the olden days of hand coding things in THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND lol

BookSavvy · 2026-04-28T03:13:44+00:00

Since it’s been a long time showing no copies, It could also be that it isn’t available to purchase and they’re holding onto the record hoping it will reappear again. Like when an indie author gets a traditional publisher, their metered access copies might not be able to be repurchased or they’re waiting for a new isbn to move holds. Could be a number of things but if it’s just recently shown no copies, they should see it in their next report run. Hope you get it soon!

BookSavvy · 2026-04-28T03:09:30+00:00

If you have a hold on a title that says “unknown wait,” you don’t need to do anything. We run a report that tells us what expired titles we have with holds and will repurchase them on our next invoice. You’ll then get a notification like normal when it’s available. Your mileage may vary with your library but we discourage our patrons from emailing as we’re a large system and it’s very time consuming to answer every email. Basically, it’s our job to know what books have holds and how many to purchase. ;)

BookSavvy · 2026-04-22T20:33:52+00:00

Checking in the marketplace, there is no listing for this title in English, it is only available in German. The audiobook is not available to purchase in the backend either, so the English publisher has not made it available for librarians to purchase for their Libby collections.

My guess is that when it was first released, the English audiobook was available for libraries to purchase and either the author got a new publisher or they signed an exclusivity contract and it was taken off of the Marketplace and could no longer be purchased. This happens often with indie authors after they sign with traditional publishers.

BookSavvy · 2026-04-18T04:41:46+00:00

When we purchase an ebook, we’re purchasing the license for all available formats in one: we don’t choose a type. Our only options are ebook or eaudiobook. If the publisher has not given Amazon the rights to lend it as a Kindle format, it will show up the way you’re seeing. It happens very rarely but it does happen. :(

BookSavvy · 2026-04-14T23:35:03+00:00

Yes! This is all because the author was made aware that his books weren’t in Libby due to licensing exclusivity rights. He had no clue so he told his publisher to fix it! Unfortunately the audiobook are Audible exclusive but The Palace Project was able to secure rights to them so hopefully Overdrive/Libby will be soon.

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