E-books to borrow in Dutch library as of late 2012

As of late 2012, anyone who is a member of a Dutch local public library can borrow e-books from the digital collections of a national digital library, according to Halbe Zijlstra, the Dutch Secretary of Culture.

Zijlstra finds one national library more efficient and cheaper, than all the local libraries having their own digital collection. With the e-books in one digital library, the use of e-books would increase the next years in the Netherlands. We will have to wait and see whether the popularity of e-books will increase and people will borrow the digital books, or if people rater opt for a paper book.

We already know that with respect to the sales of e-books, the development thereof is slow, as the market share of e-books was less than 1% in 2010 in the Netherlands. In Germany there seems to be a better development in the sales of e-books, as the German online bookstore called Libri sold more digital books than paper books. Recently, Halbe Zijlstra also announced he will not regulate the price of e-books, because this could promote the competition in the market for Dutch e-books. Also the Netherlands Competition Authority hopes not setting a fixed price for e-books increases the competition regarding Dutch e-books.

Read more about e-books on FutureofCopyright.com:

• Possible illegal price agreements between Apple and e-book publishers
• E-book substitutes paper books in Germany
• The Netherlands competition authority aspires more competition regarding e-books
• European politicians debate about VAT and the price of e-books

Reference: NU.nl