If you're going to organize some sort of protest (especially against something generally considered benign, like kittens, or libraries), some might recommend providing the definition of that which thou doth protest.

Dost. Thank you.
I did click on the Defective By Design link, but they never say what DRM is short for. Google provides an answer, but I still think that it's a relatively obscure reference for those of us who don't work in the software industry.
My personal campaign against the excessive use of acronyms and for dangling prepositions continues on!

Hey "the zak", can you learn how to link to stuff properly?

Hi, Don. Excuse the cross-posting, but I wanted to make sure that we join the conversation in all of the venues in which you post.

Listen, we all know that DRM is annoying at best. But at the BPL, we're able to offer content that would not be available to anyone in digital format otherwise because publishers feel comfortable with DRM. I hope that changes, but until then, I'm not sure what you're asking us to do.

Here's the official response. Rest assured that it was written by a real human being who knows what he's talking about, namely me:

--------------------

One of the most popular new services provided by the Boston Public Library is OverDrive, a vendor-supplied lending system for electronic books, audio books, music, and videos. Digital Library Reserve, the vendor from whom we license this content has secured thousands of popular, high-quality titles from many major publishers under the condition that digital rights management (DRM) measures are taken to ensure that the material cannot be redistributed. Furthermore, the specific DRM schema used on OverDrive titles allow material to circulate for distinct periods of time, permitting the library to honor its licensing contract and to provide a service paralleling the loan of physical material. No personal patron information is shared with OverDrive or other third-parties in the download or DRM process. Please see the BPL privacy policy for more information. (http://www.bpl.org/general/policies/privacy.htm)

While we are well aware of the frustration DRM schema can cause end users, we feel that the high numbers of use (nearly 100,000 downloads since September, 2005) send a strong signal that our customers want access to the material OverDrive provides. For many years, the BPL has offered material in a variety of formats that require specific hardware and/or contain copy-protection technologies (DVDs, Macrovision-protected VHS tapes), but we’ve never been asked to discontinue circulation of this material because not every customer has the ability to use them.

Almost all of the titles available through OverDrive are also available in other formats. Customers who are unable to use DRM-protected content can certainly access the same content via CDs, DVDs, print books, and magnetic media. We also provide links to several other sources for digital eBooks, audio, and video that are in the public domain, and therefore do not require DRM.

Boston Public Library is committed to providing free access to community-owned resources and will continue to search for partners who can provide material to the most number of users possible.

Scot Colford
Applications Manager
Boston Public Library
scolford@bpl.org