Penguin Makes Ebook Deal with New York Libraries

In a one-year pilot program, Penguin has agreed to make its newer ebooks available at the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Penguin is now working with 3M instead of OverDrive. If the program is successful, it could branch out to library systems across the country.

The reverse decision comes about four months after Penguin pulled its newest digital titles from libraries.

The new program allows the New York libraries to lend more than 15,000 Penguin front-list titles.

The catch is that the ebooks won't be available until six months after the books' initial publication date. The delay is designed to keep ebook library loans from cutting into sales of new ebooks.

The libraries will pay current market price for the ebooks and the titles are lendable one at a time.