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. |
| 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. |
| A．Amazon is adopting measures to win more customers. |
| B．E-books can be lent at libraries as many times as you like. |
| C．OverDrive distributes e-books and audio files to publishers. |
| D．Over half of Americans are borrowing e-books from libraries. |
| A．Reading Online or Offline | B．A Marriage-like Relationship |
| C．A Bright Future for Publishers | D．A Tense Story Raised by E-books |
Four Not-So-Scary Books for Halloween
These seasonal picks are fun to read and aren’t meant to be frightening.
Halloween Ball
By Perdita Cargill and Honor Cargill, illustrated by Katie Saunders
(Tiger Tales)
In this new Diary of an Accidental Witch series, Bea is on the planning committee for her school’s Halloween Ball. She’s excited and a little scared too. Bea wants to come up with good ideas, but she’s nervous her dad will find out about her magic powers.
Ages 9 and under
Lumber-Jackula
By Mat Heagerty, illustrated by Sam Owen
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
Jack’s mom is a lumberjack, and his dad is a vampire. But Jack doesn’t want to follow in their footsteps.(He loves to dance more than anything and will have to get up a lot of courage to follow his dreams. The art in this graphic novel has many fun details.
Ages 8-12
The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Pumpkin
By Bella Swift
(Aladdin)
Peggy, a pug, is worried that going trick-or-treating with Chloe, the little girl in her family, will be scary. After all, Peggy is afraid of monsters, ghosts, and most certainly the dark. Will she be brave enough to put on her pumpkin costume and be by Chloe’s side on Halloween?
Ages 7-10
The Pumpkin War
By Cathleen Young
(Wendy Lamb Books)
In Madeline Island, Wisconsin, it’s a tradition to grow pumpkins that can be hollowed out and used as a type of paddle boat. During last year’s boat race, Sam’s pumpkin ran into Billie’s pumpkin and broke it. Billie hasn’t forgiven Sam for what happened. Will they become friends again before this year’s race?
Ages 8-12
【小题1】Which book is recommended to five-year-old readers?
| A．Halloween Ball. | B．Lumber-Jackula. |
| C．The Pug Who Wanted to Be a Pumpkin. | D．The Pumpkin War. |
| A．Care. | B．Friendship. | C．Courage. | D．Family. |
| A．Western Festival. | B．Book Club. |
| C．Seasonal Favourites. | D．Novel Review. |
Kelly’s Book Blog
Blues Point Blues by Sherry1 Clark （56 pages）
Belle was never very popular, but that all changes when she gets a cool new job in the catering department（餐饮部）for a popular TV programme, a daytime soap opera called Blues Point Blues. Now everyone wants to be her friend. However, as she becomes the center of attention, she begins to have some doubts. Wasn’t this what she was dreaming of? Belle discovers she has to make some important decisions.
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by Juhn Wood （64 pages）
In 1998， John Wood was a successful manager for Microsoft in Australia. Then, while he was hiking in Nepal during a holiday, he visited a school in a mountain village. Shocked to sec their empty library, he made up his mind to return with some books. That decision soon led him to leave his job to start a charity called Room to Read, which donates libraries and books to needy schools around the world. This is a true story about an inspiring person.
Billy Elliott by Melvin Burgess （64 pages）
Eleven-year-old Billy Elliott is from a poor family in a small English town. He isn’t good at sports and hates the boxing lessons that his father makes him take. One day. Billy discovers a ballet dancing class and decides to give it a try. He immediately realizes that lie’s finally found something he can do well. Unfortunately, his father and brother have a very different opinion about ballet.
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford （58 pages）
This is the story of three brave pets on a long and dangerous journey together. After they were accidentally left behind in the remote Canadian north while their owners were travelling in Europe, these three very different animals determined to find their way back home. Their friendship and teamwork is heartwarming and wonderful as they help each other survive the trip across hundreds kilometers of wilderness.
【小题1】In the book Blues Point Blues, Belle ________.| A．dreams of becoming an actress | B．works in a catering department |
| C．wishes to be everyone’s friend | D．plays a role in a soap opera |
| A．He trained school children. | B．He hiked around the world |
| C．He worked hard in Microsoft. | D．He donated libraries and books. |
| A．Blues Point Blues. | B．Leaving Microsoft to Change the World |
| C．Billy Elliott. | D．The Incredible Journey. |
| A．the prices of the books | B．the contents of the books |
| C．the pages of the books | D．the writers of the books |
How to read more and learn more
These days, more and more Chinese people enjoy sending and receiving messages on the phone. It can help them to get the latest news and communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the textbooks; the more, the better. It can broaden my mind and improve my language skills.
Clear your purpose for reading.
No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may introduce you the books they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy.
Give up books that you don’t enjoy.
You may have chosen books that you are interested in, and they are right purpose. But while you are reading them, there may still be some books that you don’t enjoy reading. Whenever you realize that you aren’t enjoying the book you are reading,give it up.
Set a reading goal.
It is interesting that I read the books borrowed from libraries faster than those I bought. The reason is that the books I bought don’t have a due date! I don’t need to return those books.
| A．Read only what you are interested in. |
| B．Read the books borrowed from others. |
| C．Remember reading shouldn’t be a burden. |
| D．Of course, it also can help me to get good grades. |
| E．We need to get the latest news and communicate with friends. |
| F．Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. |
| G．Having a reading goal helps you work out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day. |
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