BRIET

SELL your ebooks, to libraries, for keeps.

PROTECT libraries.

BRIET is a groundbreaking new project of the Brick House Cooperative. Using BRIET, independent publishers can sell (not license) permanent copies of quality ebooks directly to libraries and schools to loan to patrons, just as they would with paper books.

The right of libraries to own their own collections is the bedrock of cultural preservation. Books that can’t be owned are books that can be tampered with, or even taken away. To demonstrate the right way for publishers to work with, and not against, libraries, the independent publishers of Brick House sold our first ebook to a library in 2021; since then we’ve been at work developing BRIET, so that fellow publishers could do the same.

BRIET provides a healthy, sustainable revenue stream for independent publishers, and helps protect traditional library rights and the preservation of digital culture.

BRIET is funded through grants from organizations dedicated to preserving digital ownership rights for books. It’s free to use, for both publishers and libraries.

Please use the form below to indicate your interest. Once your organization is approved at BRIET, you may list as many ebooks as you wish, free of charge. Then libraries can purchase your books through BRIET’s Bookmarket, according to the BRIET terms of sale.

How BRIET Works

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SEND US:

  • Ebook files (EPUB or PDF)
  • Metadata, like titles and authors (any format is fine with us)
  • Prices for ebooks, where applicable (we list free ebooks as well)

HOW YOU’LL BE PAID:

  • We’ll set up a monthly payment to you of 100% of your sales from BRIET.
    (There’s no transaction cost for using the service.)
  • Participating publishers agree to BRIET’s permission-to-access memorandum.

We can also allow publishers to upload and manage their own collections on the BRIET Marketplace.

HOW EBOOKS ARE SECURELY LOANED TO PATRONS:

Libraries that practice Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) may purchase ebooks on BRIET Bookmarket. Ebook files are made available on the Bookmarket for the library purchaser to access. Libraries then have several options to serve ebooks to patrons:

  1. Libraries can work with their existing ebook services to integrate ebooks acquired from BRIET into their catalogs.
    • BRIET can generate an Open Publication Distribution System (OPDS) feed of acquired ebooks that can be integrated into a library’s collection on user-facing apps like Libby and the Palace Project.
  1. Libraries may create a curated collection on the nonprofit Open Library to lend books to patrons on the internet.
    • Libraries must first obtain the correct curator permissions.
  1. With custom development time, BRIET can host ebooks for library patrons on the BRIET Reader, following CDL practices.
  1. BRIET can offer free technical advice to libraries on standing up Readium, the open-source software behind Reader, and offer ebooks to patrons on their own websites, as in the demo atop the Bookmarket.

BRIET works to strengthen “lend like print” ebook practices by supporting and promoting Controlled Digital Lending (CDL).

Visit the Bookmarket and read more about us. Get in touch: david@briet.app.

A project led by David Moore of The Brick House Cooperative