Ebooks: whats happening in UK Public libraries? Penny Garrod UKOLN University of Bath Bath, BA2 7AY UKOLN is supported by: URL

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Contents 1.Defining the ebook 2.Are ebooks: alive and kicking? A passing fad? The shape of things to come? 3.Status of ebooks in the UK: academic libraries public libraries 4.What are the benefits of ebooks for readers 5. What do libraries have to consider before taking the plunge? 6.conclusions

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Definitions – are we all talking the same language? What is a book? – sheets of paper bound between covers [ Random House Dictionary definition] What is an ebook? a)a hardware device for reading electronic texts? b)any publication available in electronic format e.g. reference books on CD-ROM; printed texts that have been digitised; born digital texts? c)a piece of software for reading an e-text? d)Does it include audio books? e)Works of fiction in electronic format?

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Ebooks – whats available? Reference materials e.g.: - xrefer; Oxford Reference Online; dictionaries & encyclopaedias Textbooks – aimed at students and business people Out of copyright texts (for free) – classics from many publishers How to and self help books, travel guides Audio/talking books –e.g. from audio.com

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Are ebooks alive and kicking? - the early years (circa 2000) high interest, numerous conferences, workshops unrealistic predictions re growth in sales & use of ebooks; poor or lack of market research focus on devices not content: poor interfaces;content not matched to possible markets; limited choice of titles linked to specific device and/or software publishers focus on consumers/end-users not libraries or education sector low levels of demand due to: inappropriate pricing models, limitations on use e.g. one book one reader, confusion as to what they are and whether needed; future of books debate (pixels v. paper)

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Are ebooks alive and kicking – the situation now – circa 2002 Impact of stock market collapse: takeovers, collapse of dot-coms, low profit margins; low ebook sales Shift of focus: less on hardware more on content, pricing, licensing, barriers to use etc. netLibrary: purchased by OCLC; uses traditional library model (subscriptions); moving into UK library market (OCLC/PICA – Birmingham) Ebrary – partnership with SIRSI; new service being piloted in US (Stanford, Yale and Peninsula library systems Availability: textbooks/reference materials; some fiction - free classics/out of copyright texts

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Ebooks in UK academic libraries University of Strathclyde ebook group: Eboni Project: textbook design guidelines produced JISC working group on ebooks: library needs to be seen as part of changing industry for books Strategy document published & collection development policy within next few months Conferences and workshops: numerous within past 12 months –aimed at all sectors Publishers, aggregators: focus on academic texts Seminal paper: Clifford Lynchs: Battle to define the future of the book in the digital world

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Ebooks in Public libraries Recent research: Loughborough University on behalf of Resource (March 2002) not much happening; respondents refer toCD- ROMs Resource: Peoples Network portal: demonstrator project being developed – ebooks to be included Longitudinal study: Market Harborough purchased Rocket ebook devices (2000 & 2001) Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – experimented with lending ebook readers London Boro of Richmond upon Thames – NOF funding. 3 strand approach: netLibrary; audio books and technical textbooks from Safari (for staff). Service goes live January 2003

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September ebooks – benefits for readers? Every book its reader…save the time of the reader…the five laws of Ranganathan c.1957 For students?? For public library users????? Will people want to read e-novels? (horses for courses ….)

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September What to consider:ebooks in public libraries Access via PCs in library (software readers free to download e.g. MS Reader/Adobe ebook reader) remote users to give 24/7 service Costs initial and ongoing; subscriptions and licences consortium approach/ partnership – share costs Authentication: IP range for proxy servers; referring URL from which users will link to service Restrictions on use:one reader at a time or all you can read; print costs Audiences: who? What? Where?: do they want them? is the cost justified?

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Project Gutenberg

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Amazon – free ebooks page

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Sample page from ebrary

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Sample page from Barnes and Noble

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Estari dual screen – book/computer hybrid

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September netLibrary reading room

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Search interface for netLibrary via Peninsular Library System, California

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September netLibrary: first page of Black Beauty online

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September conclusions netLibrary – early days; first meeting of prospective customers 24 Sept Ebrary – await results of US pilot; will they show interest in UK market? Resource – await results of portal demonstrator which will include ebooks Public libraries one or two are going it alone: e.g. London Borough of Richmond. May be others linked to funding opportunities (e.g. LASER Foundation calls)

National Acquisitions Group Conference, September Questions? Further discussion? Penny Garrod