Another class that circled around the issue of copyright and what libraries have the right to offer their patrons. We discussed things such as; Freegal Music: The New Music Library, which allows library members to download a certain number of tracks for free while the library pays a premium for the music. Is this a good idea? Is it a better use of the library's budget to buy music which their members can keep as opposed to a library book or cd which they have to return, but which multiple members can enjoy? I don't know. This is a tough question, especially when so many people still manage to download their music for free. Is it worth it then for the library to invest in Freegal, instead of say, buying say more e-books? This is just another question that will have to be answered as more information is accumulated about the utilization of such things as Freegal in libraries that choose to offer it.
We also discussed the correlation of the problems the music industry faced when music went digital, and the problems facing the publishing industry now that the popularity of things such as e-books is on the rise. How does each industry remain profitable when their products become so cheap to mass produce and distribute? This is where we delved into the idea of artificial scarcity- where industries seek to control the market by restricting access to their goods even though they are plentiful. We also discussed things such as ads being a possible way to gain revenue, and the use of ads by such free companies as Pandora Radio.
This led to an in depth discussion around the question of whether libraries should become a buying agent for members of their community (through such things as Freegal), or whether they should be a means for the community to pool their resources and offer things that multiple customers can enjoy (such as books, cds, dvds, ect...) There is definitely going to be over lap between the two in years to come. All public libraries are not going to stop buying books all of the sudden all, however, as can be seen in recent years due to budget restrictions and the changes in society they will severely have to change how they will be spending their budgets.
On another note, just noticed that today is Google's thirteenth birthday which made me feel extremely old as I was remembering a time when there was no such thing as Google, which would seem impossible to all of my younger family members. How did we used find all the trivial information we deem so vital nowadays? Did we just ignore those little questions like what is the name of the song that I have been singing off and on for five hours?, or did we actually phone a friend (using whatever landlines were available of course- maybe even (gasp) a payphone), or did we look it up in a book? Hmmmm good question.
In addition, am taking an Indexing course this semester and was learning about cross-referencing (see's and see also's) and the only thing I could think of was a line from Blazing Saddles. Overall it has very little to do with cross-referencing yet it was the first thing that popped into my mind...
Hedley Lamarr: Wait a minute... there might be legal precedent. Of course! Land-snatching!
[grabs a law book] Hedley Lamarr: Land, land... "Land: see Snatch."
[flips back several pages] Hedley Lamarr: Ah, Haley vs. United States. Haley: 7, United States: nothing. You see, it can be done! (IMBD.com- Blazing Saddles (1974)
Furthermore, in the September 27th class Dr. Lankes mentioned the show Warehouse 13, which is one of my all time favorite shows, in reference to the fact that one of the ways that the show makes money is by blatantly advertising Twizzlers (and I mean blatantly), and I couldn't help but think of the awesome reference that was made in one of the latest episodes where Beatrix Potter's original drafts of Peter Rabbit are being overlooked and are actually quite dark and Pete makes the reference that "he doesn't remember that being on Reading Rainbow" I have never heard anything on TV reference Reading Rainbow before and it just made me fall in love with the show just a little bit more.
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