2. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk E-books in academic libraries: an overview Avon University Libraries in Cooperation (AULIC)- 12th May 2003 Penny Garrod UKOLN University of Bath Bath, BA2 7AY Email p.garrod@ukoln.ac.uk URL http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ UKOLN is supported by:

3. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 Contents 1.The key players 2.Background information: ebooks in libraries  the early years  current situation 3.The role of JISC 4.ongoing issues for libraries 5.Research and development 6.ebook aggregators – what can they offer? 7.Alternative resources and models: audiobooks; freebies

4. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 Ebooks: the key players Publishers [intermediaries: aggregators & ebook suppliers ] -want to control use & safeguard print sales (Digital Rights Management) Focus on end-users not libraries – role for aggregators/ suppliers Libraries (various sectors) Readers/ end users Aim to enhance existing services Exploit online environment-24/7 + remote access seek cost-effective, sustainable models What can ebooks offer? Are charges payable? Do ebooks meet their needs? Are they exciting and easy to use?

5. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 The technology: past and future Dedicated ebook readers:  goreader (USA); REB1100/1200 (Gemstar); Franklin ebook reader Handheld devices:  PDAs e.g. Palm Pilot; iPAQ; Pocket PCs etc.  3G mobile phones PCs:  Laptops; Tablet PCs; desktops Note: ebooks published in various formats - tying titles to specific devices

6. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 Ebooks: current situation  Collapse of dot.coms & cooling off period with poor sales.Focus on content rather than devices  Aggregators – start to explore library markets in Europe OCLC acquires netLibrary; user group for Europe set up in the UK end of 2002 Ebrary: offers different funding/access model  2003: several projects to pilot ebooks in public libraries (PDAs+netlibrary+ebrary+Safari+audiobooks)  Standards: Microsoft Reader and Acrobat e-Reader emerging as market leaders for reading ebooks on PCs  Content constantly growing but still limited

7. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 JISC ebooks working group and discussion list  Provide leadership and develop a strategy for ebooks for academic community  Acquire content; monitor and influence the industry; evaluate economic models Publication: Shaping a strategy for e-books: an issues paper by Hazel Woodward and Louise Edwards, September 2001 Jiscmail list: LIS-E-BOOKS@JISCMAIL.AC.UK http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=wg_ebooks_home

8. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 Ongoing issues for libraries  Content:US bias - limited European/global content  benefits to libraries and end-users? Critical mass not yet reached – limited usage statistics/feedback  impact on print collections? Short loan/reference/key texts  staff training: lecturers? students? [can they integrate with e-learning e.g Blackboard/WebCT?]  Impact on collection development policies?  Integration: MARC records, OPACs  must be promoted and marketed  pricing and access: one book/one reader (netLibrary) - some publishers now offering simultaneous access; Coutts/ebrary model is for simultaneous access.

9. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 more issues  electronic short loan: to meet reading list demand is main use; locate rather than read; reference tool/browsing; print and then read  Consortial collection building - favoured e.g. geographical groupings (successful in US)  Content: UK content still poor (UK rights issues); strengths: management/business; IT/computing; law; medicine; psychology  Benefits: 24/7 access; no lost or damaged bookstock; interactive features e.g. bookmarks/annotation/cross- searching; space-saving; currency  Disadvantages: content; pricing and access models still new(ish) – lots of unknowns

10. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 Research and development University of Surrey: Testing the viability of electronic books at UniS. Final report December 2002 http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Library/eBook_Project_Report. pdf  whether ebooks can contribute positively to students learning at UniS (undergraduates)  Content availability  Can they address issues re short loan collection CURL + OCLC PICA pilot (to be confirmed) to test two models: one book/one user and simultaneous use (based on list price + number of students + duration of access)

11. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 10 University of Surrey www.surrey.ac.uk/Library/ebooks.shtml

12. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 11 netLibrary in Europe User group: set up by OCLC/PICA Birmingham - September 2002  Mainly academic users e.g. UWE, Warwick, Surrey  Committee representative of main sectors; 1 member from Denmark (Aalborg University) + public library reps  netLibrary negotiate improvements with individual publishers on behalf of the user group  progress reports at user group meetings e.g. Rich Rosy, Vice-President on 3 Dec 2002  Email discussion list set up; website in progress  Athens authentication recently introduced

13. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 12 netLibrary User Group: UK, Europe and South Africa

14. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 13 www.overdrive.com

15. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 14 Other resources & models Free ebooks: many libraries provide link to free ebook resources e.g. Australian website: http://www.e- book.com.au/freebooks.htm includes:http://www.e- book.com.au/freebooks.htm  classics/out of copyright literature;  Best free digital libraries e.g. Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.net http://www.gutenberg.net  Internet Public Library (USA) http://www.ipl.org/reading/books http://www.ipl.org/reading/books Lending library model: Australian - aimed at rural communities; reading disabilities; PC or handheld device using Mobipocket software. http://www.libwise.com/ozebooks/

16. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 15 Select bibliography Clifford Lynch: The battle to define the future of the book in the digital world http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue6_6/lynch/ seminal text; wide ranging and thought provoking Ruth Wilson (eboni project) Evolution of portable electronic books. Ariadne Issue 29, Oct 2001. http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue29/wilson/ http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue29/wilson/ Uni of Surrey report (Dec 2002) http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Library/eBook_Project_Report. pdf http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Library/eBook_Project_Report. pdf

17. A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 16 Conclusions 1.ebook suppliers/aggregators offer tailored model for libraries e.g. netLibrary now has UK customers involving users and developing new global markets continually adding new content; receptive to notion of alternative access models BUT…expensive; single user access; US bias + limited content Ebrary: aims to expand UK client base; offers simultaneous multi-user access model 2.Users will be ultimate determinant of success. Ebooks need promoting/marketing 3.Consortial approach is good option – cost sharing; collection development