E-books in academic libraries an overview Avon University

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

Contents 1. The key players 2. Background information: ebooks in libraries Ø the early years Ø 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 A centre of expertise in digital information management 2 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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

The technology: past and future Dedicated ebook readers: Øgoreader (USA); REB 1100/1200 (Gemstar); Franklin ebook reader Handheld devices: ØPDAs e. g. Palm Pilot; i. PAQ; Pocket PCs etc. Ø 3 G mobile phones PCs: ØLaptops; Tablet PCs; desktops Note: ebooks published in various formats - tying titles to specific devices A centre of expertise in digital information management 4 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Ebooks: current situation 1. Collapse of dot. coms & cooling off period with poor sales. Focus on content rather than devices 2. Aggregators – start to explore library markets in Europe 1. OCLC acquires net. Library; user group for Europe set up in the UK end of 2002 2. Ebrary: offers different funding/access model 3. 2003: several projects to pilot ebooks in public libraries (PDAs+netlibrary+ebrary+Safari+audiobooks) 4. Standards: Microsoft Reader and Acrobat e. Reader emerging as market leaders for reading ebooks on PCs 5. Content constantly growing but still limited A centre of expertise in digital information management 5 www. ukoln. ac. uk

JISC ebooks working group and discussion list 1. Provide leadership and develop a strategy for ebooks for academic community 2. Acquire content; monitor and influence the industry; evaluate economic models 3. Publication: Shaping a strategy for e-books: an issues paper by Hazel Woodward and Louise Edwards, September 2001 4. Jiscmail list: LIS-E-BOOKS@JISCMAIL. AC. UK 5. http: //www. jisc. ac. uk/index. cfm? name=wg_ebooks_ home A centre of expertise in digital information management 6 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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/Web. CT? ] §Impact on collection development policies? §Integration: MARC records, OPACs § must be promoted and marketed §pricing and access: one book/one reader (net. Library) some publishers now offering simultaneous access; Coutts/ebrary model is for simultaneous access. A centre of expertise in digital information management 7 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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/crosssearching; space-saving; currency §Disadvantages: content; pricing and access models still new(ish) – lots of unknowns A centre of expertise in digital information management 8 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Research and development University of Surrey: Testing the viability of electronic books at Uni. S. Final report December 2002 http: //www. surrey. ac. uk/Library/e. Book_Project_Report. pdf v whether ebooks can contribute positively to students learning at Uni. S (undergraduates) v. Content availability v. 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) A centre of expertise in digital information management 9 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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

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

net. Library User Group: UK, Europe and South Africa A centre of expertise in digital information management 12 www. ukoln. ac. uk

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

Other resources & models Free ebooks: many libraries provide link to free ebook resources e. g. Australian website: http: //www. ebook. com. au/freebooks. htm includes: q classics/out of copyright literature; q Best free digital libraries e. g. Project Gutenberg: http: //www. gutenberg. net q. 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/ A centre of expertise in digital information management 14 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Select bibliography Clifford Lynch: The battle to define the future of the book in the digital world http: //www. firstmonday. dk/issues/issue 6_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/issue 29/wilson/ Uni of Surrey report (Dec 2002) http: //www. surrey. ac. uk/Library/e. Book_Project_Report. pdf A centre of expertise in digital information management 15 www. ukoln. ac. uk

Conclusions 1. ebook suppliers/aggregators offer tailored model for libraries e. g. net. Library now has UK customers ü involving users and developing new global markets ü 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 A centre of expertise in digital information management 16 www. ukoln. ac. uk