a centre of expertise in digital information management e-books in academic libraries: an overview...

A centre of expertise in digital information management

www.ukoln.ac.uk

E-books in academic libraries: an overview

Avon University Libraries in Cooperation (AULIC)- 12th May 2003

Penny GarrodUKOLNUniversity of BathBath, BA2 7AY

[email protected]://www.ukoln.ac.uk/

UKOLN is supported by:


www.ukoln.ac.uk

2

Contents1. The key players2. Background information: ebooks in libraries

the early years current situation

3. The role of JISC4. ongoing issues for libraries5. Research and development6. ebook aggregators – what can they offer?7. Alternative resources and models:

audiobooks; freebies


www.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?


www.ukoln.ac.uk

4

The technology: past and future

Dedicated ebook readers:goreader (USA); REB1100/1200 (Gemstar); Franklin ebook readerHandheld devices: PDAs e.g. Palm Pilot; iPAQ; Pocket PCs etc.3G mobile phonesPCs: Laptops; Tablet PCs; desktops

Note: ebooks published in various formats - tying titles to specific devices


www.ukoln.ac.uk

5

Ebooks: current situation

Collapse of dot.coms & cooling off period with poor sales.Focus on content rather than devicesAggregators – 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 model2003: 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 PCsContent constantly growing but still limited


www.ukoln.ac.uk

6

JISC ebooks working group and discussion list

Provide leadership and develop a strategy for ebooks for academic communityAcquire 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: [email protected]://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=wg_ebooks_home


www.ukoln.ac.uk

7

Ongoing issues for libraries Content:US bias - limited European/global contentbenefits to libraries and end-users? Critical mass not yet reached – limited usage statistics/feedback impact on print collections? Short loan/reference/key textsstaff 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.


www.ukoln.ac.uk

8

more issueselectronic 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; psychologyBenefits: 24/7 access; no lost or damaged bookstock; interactive features e.g. bookmarks/annotation/cross- searching; space-saving; currencyDisadvantages: content; pricing and access modelsstill new(ish) – lots of unknowns


www.ukoln.ac.uk

9

Research and development

University of Surrey: Testing the viability of electronic books at UniS. Final report December 2002http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Library/eBook_Project_Report.pdf whether ebooks can contribute positively to students learning at UniS (undergraduates)Content availabilityCan 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)


www.ukoln.ac.uk

10

University of Surrey www.surrey.ac.uk/Library/ebooks.shtml


www.ukoln.ac.uk

11

netLibrary in Europe

User group: set up by OCLC/PICA Birmingham - September 2002Mainly academic users e.g. UWE, Warwick, SurreyCommittee representative of main sectors; 1 member from Denmark (Aalborg University) + public library repsnetLibrary negotiate improvements with individual publishers on behalf of the user groupprogress reports at user group meetings e.g. Rich Rosy, Vice-President on 3 Dec 2002Email discussion list set up; website in progressAthens authentication recently introduced


www.ukoln.ac.uk

12

netLibrary User Group: UK, Europe and South Africa


www.ukoln.ac.uk

13

www.overdrive.com


www.ukoln.ac.uk

14

Other resources & modelsFree ebooks: many libraries provide link to free ebook resources e.g. Australian website: http://www.e-book.com.au/freebooks.htm includes:

classics/out of copyright literature; Best free digital libraries e.g. Project Gutenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.net Internet Public Library (USA)

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/


www.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/

Uni of Surrey report (Dec 2002) http://www.surrey.ac.uk/Library/eBook_Project_Report.pdf


www.ukoln.ac.uk

16

Conclusions1. 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 contentEbrary: aims to expand UK client base; offers

simultaneous multi-user access model2. Users will be ultimate determinant of success.

Ebooks need promoting/marketing3. Consortial approach is good option – cost sharing;

collection development

a centre of expertise in digital information management e-books in academic libraries: an overview...

Documents