e-books – between publishers and library needs
DESCRIPTION
The need for electronic books in libraries is growing as both librarians and library patrons increasingly appreciate their advantages. E-book publishers have become aware of this need, and started targeting libraries and even developing new products to suit them. But to what extent do publishers fulfil library needs? Is the current variety of models satisfying or confusing for libraries and their users? This presentation will discuss some of the issues, including digital rights management, and impact on collection management and inter-library loan.TRANSCRIPT
E-books – between publishers and library needs
Ksenija Mincic-ObradovicCataloguing Manager
NZLLA Symposium6 September 2012
This presentation
• E-book formats and standards• Impact of e-books on library services
– Purchase models– Bibliographic records– Communication from vendors/publishers– Monitoring e-book usage– Preserving access to paid and free material
What is an e-book?
A monograph available in electronic format
E-book Formats
29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats
Desktop
E-book Readers
Available via link, or downloaded
Stand-alone Reading Device
Mobile Phone
If you are confused, remember you are not the only one confused.
http://assets.bizjournals.com/cms_media/images/ebookuniversel.png?site=techflash.com
2011 Aptara e-book publishers survey
Available from http://www.aptaracorp.com/resources/
2011 Aptara e-book publishers survey
Available from http://www.aptaracorp.com/resources/
Explore the options and limitations to know what devices to match with what content.
The face of publishing is changing
• Continuous increase in:– e-book production – eFirst– Publishing On Demand
• From 2012 most publishers sell more e-books than print books (Amazon, Springer, Barnes & Noble…)
Who are e-book publishers?
• Commercial publishers• Non-commercial publishers (e.g. governments)• Individuals• Aggregators• Google Books• Libraries• …
Critical elements in e-book publishing
• Copyright - access to e-books is global, while copyright laws vary from country to country.
• DRM (Digital Rights Management) - E-book publishers exercise varying degrees of control over access, sharing and lending of intellectual property.
A few more problems …
• Vendors/publishers do not advise on ceased or superseded titles
• No communication between publishers of free books and libraries
• Some publishers/providers do not see libraries as customers at all
• Message about what libraries need varies too
It is not realistic and not appropriate to expect print and e-books to be the same.
Influence on libraries
• Huge number of e-book licencing models• Interlibrary loan is not normallyallowed• Printing, downloading and copying and pasting
activities are limited
Business models and acquisition methods
• Collections offered by vendors/publishers via various platforms:– subscription (e.g. ebrary) – ~80%– single purchase (e.g. EBSCOhost)– combination of these two (e.g. Safari)– patron driven acquisition (e.g. EBL)
• Individual books from publishers• Free e-monographs (e.g. Law Commission
publications, Project Gutenberg)
Library catalogues
• Searching all library material, print and eletronic monographs
Publishers/vendor databases
• Full text searches
Discovery
Access to the three most popular e-book collections at the University of Auckland Library in 2009
Patron preferred access in the ebrary’s Global eBook Survey (2007)
http://www.ebrary.com/corp/collateral/en/Survey/ebrary_eBook_survey_2007.pdf
“The e-book is only as good as its metadata.” Wouter van der Velde Springer ANZ Summit
30-31 August 2012
SpringerLink usage at UoA
Year Titles Section requests Titles with usage
2007 34532 11834 2564
2008 34532 51375 6315
2009 37037 75011 8842
Unfortunately …
• Libraries have bibliographic records for 72.5% of their e-books (Library use of ebooks, 2011 edition)
• Not all vendors and publishers provide records• Quality of bibliographic records varies
significantly• Updates of records are not timely
Internet access or Downloading?
• 24/7 access• Requires internet access• Full text searches across
whole database• Additional features:
dictionaries, links to other resources, YouTube, Wikipedia…
• Limited period of time• Issues with format/standard
compatibility• Portable• Users love their e-book
reading devices• Not all publishers/vendors
allow downloading• E-readers are fragile and too
expensive
Make sure your users know what you have available for them and how to use it.
Usage Statistics
• We need them to be able to make informed decisions (e.g. opt for subscription or DDA; review an agreement)
• Provided only by some vendors/publishers, and in various ways
Permanent access
• Persistent URLs (particularly big problem with free e-books)
• Preservation (LOCKSS, CLOCKSS)
Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe
Controlled LOCKSS
Areas for improvement
• More standardisation (purchase models, formats, ways of access, statistics)
• High quality metadata for discovering e-books
• Collaboration - vendors, publishers, LIS developers, libraries should work closely together and further explore best practices, workflows, and business models
Cons Pros
Additional features
Full text searches
24/7
Gap between functionality and usability
Need a designated
reader
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHX-SjgQvQ
Are e-books worth it?
