Electronic Books:Library Perspectives

LSTA-FundedElectronic Book Evaluation Project

Rochester, New York

March 2, 2000

Susan GibbonsElectronic Book Project Directorsgibbons@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us

Types of Electronic Books Content Providers

netLibrary Questia Books 24x7

Software Glassbook/Adobe Microsoft Reader

Read via computer

Types of Electronic Books Multi-functional

PDA’s- Palm Pilot Dedicated

Readers Rocket eBook SoftBook Reader REB1100 & 1200

Read via portable readers

Rocket eBookRocket eBook (original (original model)model)

Cost $199 Grayscale,

monochrome screen Screen size 4.5 x 3” Resolution of 105 dpi Weight 1.25 pounds Capacity 3,500 pages Battery life- 20-40

hours HTML, Word & ASCII

SoftBook ReaderSoftBook Reader (original (original model)model)

Costs approx. $600 Grayscale,

monochrome screen Screen size 6 x 8” Resolution of 72 dpi Weight 2.9 pounds Capacity 5,000 pages Battery life- 5 hours HTML, Word & ASCII

Features 6-8 titles loaded simultaneously Adjustable backlighting Choice of 2 font sizes Stylus for margin notes & highlighting Touch screen for hypertext Searching Hyperlinked dictionary (Rocket only) Bookmarking A/C adapter & Quick Start Guide Easy to erase markings NO printing capability

SoftBook Serverwww.bn.com

www.powells.com

ANALOG!

Encryption Problem Rocket titles only work on Rocket

Readers & SoftBook titles only work on SoftBook Readers

Title is encrypted so that it can only work on a single, unique reader

In other words, cannot transfer a purchased title onto any other reader, even of the same model

Cataloging implications

Electronic BooksElectronic Books•Current fiction & non-fiction (often with delay)•Usually already in print•Public domain titles•Periodicals and newspaper•Few children's, young adult, academic and

foreign titles

eBook Genres (as of 2/8/01)

Biography- 115 Business- 188 Classics- 28 Current Events- 10 Fiction & Lit.- 1,939 History- 96 Horror & Suspense-

127 Mind, Body, Spirit- 83

Mystery- 223 Religion- 85 Romance- 420 Sci Fi- 284 Thriller- 165 Travel- 29 Young Adults- 130

TOTAL- 3,922

eBook Pricing Examples

Hardback List Price- $27.95eBook Price- $22.36eBook released first

Hardback List Price- $25.95eBook Price- $11.96eBook released first

eBook-Only Titles

Orpheus Emergedby Jack Kerouac$3.95Glassbook & Microsoft formats

The Veteranby Frederick Forsyth$2.99Glassbook & Microsoft formats1st of a quintet of short stories

eBook-Enhanced Titles

Wish You WellBy David Baldacci$14.95Glassbook & Microsoft format

Paper and ebook formats released simultaneously, but eBook version includes original essay by author “Origins of Wish You Well”

Evaluation ProjectEvaluation Project Call for volunteer “field-test” libraries Ebook readers into 6 area libraries

2 academic- RIT and Univ. of Rochester 2 public- Gates and Fairport Public Libraries 2 school- high school and middle school

Created own policies and procedures Circulate readers-

3 Rocket eBook Readers 2 SoftBook Readers

Evaluation Project User surveys Focus groups

Librarians Patrons Educators

Documented trials and tribulations

Challenges Cataloging Circulation Digital phone lines Appropriate titles Browsing Preservation

ResultsResults No complaints of eye strain

67% read 1 or more complete titles Combo backlighting & large font

Want devices to be lighter Patrons really liked

backlighting several titles in one package larger fonts

Results Not just curiosity

35% prefer ebook; 23% no preference Reasons for ebook preference

Large fonts, backlighting, easier to read & fun

Reasons for paper book preference Tradition, more durable, better

selection, no battery, less expensive

Patron Differences Academic Library patrons want

multi-functional unit Public Library patrons want

dedicated unit School Library patrons enjoy

novelty Capture their interest Teaching tool

ELS students; disabled; low reading comprehension

Next GenerationNext Generation Devices by Gemstar/RCA

REB 1100 (Rocket)

REB 1200 (SoftBook)

Price $299 $699

Screen Grayscale Color

Size 7.1 x 5 “ 9 x 7.5”

Weight 1.06 lb 2.06 lb

Capacity 8,000 pgs 5,000 pgs

Battery 15-35 hours 6-12 hours

Download USB port; internal modem

Internal modem; ethernet

goReadergoReader E-textbook Reader for Higher

Education Capacity for 150 e-textbooks Less than 5 lbs 7.3 x 9.7” color screen Built-in calculator, notepad &

calendar Highlighting & notetaking Share notes & annotations Battery life- 5 hours Testing in Spring 2000, available

afterwards

Franklin eBookmanFranklin eBookman $129.95 (8MB) $179.95 (8MB, backlit,

enhanced LCD) $229.95 (16MB) ebook reader with PDA

functionality Grayscale screen Audio ebook and MP3 player Address & date book Weighs 7 oz. Available February 15, 2001

Pocket PCs with Microsoft Pocket PCs with Microsoft Reader SoftwareReader Software

Combine ebook reader with mini-PC

ClearType technology to improve LCD screens

Bookmarking, highlighting and annotations

Plays MP3 files Built-in dictionary Purchase titles from bn.com

& amazon.com 4 models in range of $500-

$600

HP’s Jornada

Casio’s Cassiopeia

Compaq’s IPac

Symbol’s PPT 2700

Glassbook Software (Adobe)

For PCs only Free or Plus Version for $39 Notes, dictionary, highlighting PDF format Printing if publisher allows 300+ titles

Comics Children’s

Other Products Content Server Library Server Kiosk

Project’s Year 2 Continue to evaluate new ebook

technology & issues Audio ebooks e-reserves with netLibrary Next generation SoftBook & Rocket Special needs- large print text & low

hand dexterity Questia

Contact Info Susan Gibbons

LSTA Electronic Book Project Director&Digital Initiatives LibrarianUniversity of Rochestersgibbons@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us

Project’s Website: http://www.rrlc.org/ebook/ebookhome.html

This production was supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to The New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.