by: Andrew Albanese
In a letter to OverDrive CEO Steve Potash, the ReadersFirst coalition of
libraries has protested a change that would require new users of OverDrive’s app
to register accounts directly with OverDrive.
Stressing that “libraries, not the vendors we pay,” should own
the customer relationship, the letter expresses “concern with the storage of
private patron information” and posits that establishing the OverDrive account
is not necessary and is "essentially a marketing opportunity" that could "erode
the relationship that the library has with our patrons."
The letter comes in response to an email from OverDrive to library partners announcing changes
coming to the OverDrive mobile app. While the good news is that the app would no
longer require users to register for an Adobe ID (to navigate the DRM), new
users would have to register for an OverDrive account.
In an email to members Monday, Jim Loter, director of
Information Technology at the Seattle Public Library said the “ReadersFirst
Leadership Group felt strongly that this change to OverDrive’s terms of service
was a step in the wrong direction,” that might serve to “further cement the
relationship of our patrons with OverDrive’s branded service instead of their
local library.”
Loter added that Potash acknowledged the concerns expressed by
ReadersFirst and that “he will respond to our message.”
Also on
PW
No comments:
Post a Comment