Visitors to Canadian libraries will no longer have access to free digital magazines from Canada’s largest publisher.
Magazines Canada, an industry trade group, advised Canadian publishers to walk away from an agreement with the company whose software makes the publications available because of delivery problems. Rogers Media complied, and its magazines are no longer available on the popular Zinio app.
“The association recommended that its members withdraw from the program due to software technical issues that meant digital magazines were not being delivered in a way that is consistent with content delivery expectations and restrictions,” Mark Jamison wrote in an e-mail to The Globe.
Zinio wasn’t immediately available for comment.
The news comes as Rogers Media prepares to offer consumers a Netflix-like app, that will provide access to all of its magazines as well as dozens of high-profile American titles for a monthly fee. But Rogers insists the decision to pull its titles from the library wasn’t its own, and referred inquiries to trade association Magazines Canada.
Magazines Canada did not respond to questions about how many libraries offered its members magazines via the Zinio app. The Toronto Public Library trumpeted its program earlier this fall, saying the digital magazines were extremely popular, with about 55,000 copies checked out in since June.
Mr. Jamison said the program could return.
“Magazines Canada is working with the software supplier and will review this program in the near future,” he said. “We regret any inconvenience this may have caused library patrons.”
The Globe & Mail
