[Libs-Or] OverDrive. The long term. The short term.

[don warner saklad]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Richard Stallman <rms at gnu.org>
Date: Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: [Libs-Or] Fwd: Could you forward this to the list?
To: don.saklad at gmail.com


Would you please post this response on libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us?


   That said, as a public librarian, I have a responsibility to provide the
   best possible service I can to my patrons, and to be a responsible steward
   of taxpayer funds.

I think responsible stewardship means not spending those funds on
books with DRM.

I agree about the goal of offering the best possible service; but,
taking that goal in the long term, I think it calls for refusing to
carry books with DRM.

     Our patrons  tax money has gone to purchase access to
   Overdrive s DRM-laden content.  Therefore, I am duty-bound to do everything
   I can to facilitate and simplify patrons  access to that content.

Does having taken one step along a bad path justify taking another?
Looking at the long term, I don't think so.  Perhaps you are
interpreting your goals in too short a term.


Meanwhile, I suggest we not to refer to books as "content", because
that word disparages the books.  It treats them as filler for a box.
I love books, and I'm sure you do too; let's talk about them in
a way that appreciates them as writting rather than as filler.
See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Content.


--
Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation
51 Franklin St
Boston MA 02110
USA
www.fsf.org, www.gnu.org