Likea tired marriage, the relationship between libraries and publishers has long-组卷网

阅读理解-阅读单选 0.85 引用2 组卷215

Like a tired marriage, the relationship between libraries and publishers has long been dull. E-books, however, are causing heartache. Libraries know they need digital wares if they are to remain relevant, but many publishers are too cautious about piracy (盗版) and lost sales to cooperate. Among the big six, only Random House and Harper Collins license e-books with most libraries.

Publishers are wise to be nervous. Owners of e-readers are exactly the customers they need: book- lovers with money. If these people switch to borrowing e-books instead of buying them, what then? Electronic borrowing is awfully convenient. Unlike printed books, e-book files can be downloaded at home from digital libraries anytime. The files disappear from the device when they are due automatically. Awkwardly for publishers, buying an e-book costs more than renting one but offers little extra value.

E-lending is not simple, however. There are lots of different and often incompatible (不兼容的) e-book formats, devices and licenses. Most libraries use a company called OverDrive, which secures rights from publishers and provides e-books and audio files in every format. Yet publishers and libraries are worried by OverDrive’s global market dominance, as the company can control fees and conditions. Publishers were annoyed when OverDrive teamed up with Amazon, the world’s biggest online bookseller, last year. Owners of Amazon’s Kindle e-reader who want to borrow e-books from libraries are now redirected to Amazon’s website, where Amazon follows up library frequenters directly, letting them know they can “Buy this book” when the loan falls due.

According to Pew, an opinion researcher, library users are a perfect market for Amazon. Late last year Amazon introduced its Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, which lets its best customers borrow free one of thousands of popular books each month.

Library supporters argue that book borrowers are also book buyers and that libraries are vital spaces for readers to discover new works. Many were cheered by a recent Pew survey which found that more than half of Americans with library cards say they prefer to buy their e-books. So, publishers keep adjusting their lending arrangements in search of the right balance. Random House raised its licensing prices earlier this year, and Harper Collins limits libraries to lending its titles 26 times.

【小题1】What can be inferred from Paragraph 1?

A．Many publishers are hesitant to license e-books.

B．The library-publisher relationship has been unstable.

C．Libraries and publishers hold the same view towards e-books.

D．Random House and Harper Collins are the top two publishers.

【小题2】Why are publishers worried about electronic borrowing?

A．There may be a noticeable drop in profit.

B．Rights for publishers can’t be secured any longer.

C．E-books can be downloaded again when they are due.

D．E-books and their audio files are provided in every format.

【小题3】What can we learn from the text?

A．Amazon is adopting measures to win more customers.