:: LNR Journalism ::

California libraries close to ebooks deal with self-pub site Smashwords

paidContent :: Califa, California’s largest library network, is about to strike an ebook deal with self-publishing site Smashwords, Library Journal reports. The partnership would bring about 10,000 self-published ebooks into Califa’s 220 libraries.

HT/Via - Continue to read Laura Hazard Owen, paidcontent.org

Euro book chiefs: e-book VAT must be lowered

Note: In Germany value added tax on books is 7%, already 12% lower than VAT on other products (19%).

The Next Web :: We’ve previously written about how Amazon’s e-book tax loophole means lower prices in Europe, and how that could be bad for UK competition. Just to recap, Amazon’s decision to establish its European HQ in Luxembourg may prove to be fruitful for the e-commerce giant, as the country announced last year that it was slashing value-added tax (VAT) on e-books from 15% to 3%, meaning Amazon’s Kindle business could be set to flourish across Europe.

Continue to read Paul Sawers, thenextweb.com

From Penguin, a plan to make its e-books available in New York City libraries

Media Decoder :: In the past year, Penguin Group USA has slowly pulled away from the library e-book market. Now it is tiptoeing back in. The publisher is working with New York City libraries and 3M on a pilot program that will make Penguin e-books available in city libraries beginning in August, Penguin said on Wednesday.

Continue to read Julie Bosman, mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com

Worldreader: An e-book revolution for Africa?

Wall Street Journal :: It is time for a vocabulary lesson in Bernard Opio's sixth-form class at the Humble Primary School in Mukono, Uganda. One new word the students have already learned this year is "Kindle." Mr. Opio instructs them to pull out their Amazon.com Kindle e-reading devices. Within seconds, most of the teenagers have a digital Oxford English Dictionary open on their screens. "It took the kids just a few days to learn how to use them," says Mr. Opio.

Continue to read Geoffrey A. Fowler | Nicholas Bariyo, online.wsj.com

Google’s e-book deal could slow rise of Amazon Kindle in Europe

paidContent :: Google announced a major deal this week with French authors and publishers that clears the way for the sale of millions of e-books that have been caught in legal limbo until now. The deal could spur digital publishing in Europe and also shape which companies gain control of the continent’s fledgling e-book market.

Continue to read Jeff John Roberts, paidcontent.org

UK's third largest chain of supermarkets Sainsbury's moves into e-book space

J Sainsburgy plc :: Sainsbury's has today announced the acquisition of HMV Group plc’s shareholding in Anobii Limited, a social network and online retailer of e-books. As a result of the transaction and Sainsbury’s investment in the future development of the business, it is anticipated that Sainsbury's will have a 64% stake in Anobii. Sainsbury's purchased HMV Group plc's stake in Anobii Limited for £1.

Continue to read www.j-sainsbury.co.uk

Sainsbury on Wikipedia

HT: Ingrid Lunden, techcrunch.com

Pottermore CEO Charlie Redmayne on taking Harry Potter digital

paidContent :: When it comes to selling e-books, the Harry Potter franchise is far from conventional: digital e-bookstore Pottermore has been selling JK Rowling’s e-books without digital rights protection. Why?

Video interview with CEO Charlie Redmayne here Amanda Natividad, paidcontent.org

BookExpo America: Independent's day in the bookselling business

Seattle Times :: It could all change quickly, but independent booksellers again have good news to report as the publishing industry prepares for its annual national convention, BookExpo America. Sales figures for 2012 are encouraging as association CEO Oren Teicher shared statistics compiled by Nielsen BookScan, which tracks around 75 percent of print sales.

Continue to read Hillel Italie, AP, seattletimes.nwsource.com

BiblioCrunch relaunches as an e-book services marketplace

The Next Web :: BiblioCrunch‘s e-book services marketplace is now open to the public, the New York-based startup announced today, right on time for Book Expo America. According to its CEO Miral Sattar, its ambition is to create new opportunities for authors, publishers and e-book service providers to work together.

Continue to read Anna Heim, thenextweb.com

Ebook revolution can kindle a passion for publishing

Telegraph :: Many people have asked me why I, a literary agent, decided to publish books. The short answer is “to better serve my authors”. The long answer requires a little backstory on how the publishing business has changed in recent years.

Continue to read Ed Victor, www.telegraph.co.uk