Penguin withdraws new ebooks from Overdrive, looks for new library partners

Penguin Group USA have announced that with immediate effect it "will no longer offer additional copies of ebooks and audiobooks for purchase via Overdrive" and is severing their ongoing relationship with the vendor. Libraries will continue to have access to titles they have already purchased.

This decision is connected with the concern shared by many publishers about Overdrive's implementation of their Kindle library lending--in which library patrons are sent to a Amazon to download their ebook., which they consider a direct violation of Overdrive's contracts. As one publisher told Publishers Lunch last Fall, "Our agreement with Amazon allows them to download our books only to people they sell to from their sites. Our OverDrive contract allows for fulfillment of files to end users (libraries or retail) only if the file is on their server."

This does not mean that Penguin Group is withdrawing support for ebooks in libraries. In fact its statement goes on to say that, "it is vital that we forge relationships with libraries and build a future together.... Our ongoing partnership with the ALA is more important than ever, and our recent talks with ALA leadership helped bring everything into focus."

To read the article in full,which is well worth doing for the nuances of this complex situation, click the link below.