Overview of Electronic Book Technology

1
Overview of Electronic BookTechnology
September 21, 2001

• Susan Gibbons
• LSTA-Funded E-Book Evaluation Project Director
• Digital Initiatives Librarian, University of
  Rochester

2
Types of eBook Systems
Devices
Software
Digital Audio Books
Subscription Services
3
eBook Devices

• Must own the device to read the content
• Personal annotations, choice of font sizes,
  backlighting, full-text searching, dictionary
• Device designed specifically for reading
• not the same as reading on a computer screen
• Download
• via computer
• via internal modem

4
eBook Devices

• Current technology lacks widespread adoption
• Frustration with encryption and lack of
  inter-operability
• Growing interest around etextbook devices

goReader
5
eBook Software

• Make use of devices you already have
• Personal annotation, choice of font sizes,
  full-text searching
• Work interactively with other software
• Download
• directly to computer
• to device via computer

6
eBook Software

• Frustration with encryption and lack of
  inter-operability
• Screens not made for extensive reading

7
eBook Subscription Services

• Library or personal subscriptions
• Bundled with research tools
• Personal annotations
• Citation bibliography creation
• Full-text searching
• Must be on-line to access collection

8
Audio eBooks

• Digital equivalent of a book on tape, but in MP3
  format
• Contract with Audible.com permits libraries to
  circulate content
• No lost or damaged cassette tapes

9
eBook Implementation Issues

• Selection
• Content is proprietary
• Publishers worried about Napster
• Select ebook system by content
• Availability of titles
• Whats missing?
• eBook-only
• eBook-enhanced

10
eBook Implementation Issues

• Selection
• Collection development
• Not well integrated into collection development
  tools
• Times when ebooks are good substitute for paper
  books
• directories, indexes, encyclopedias
• e-reserves
• complex images
• certain subject matters

11
eBook Implementation Issues

• Acquisition / Licensing
• Fair Use
• Doctrine of First Sale
• Rent or own?
• Encryption
• Presents many challenges to libraries
• Reader authentication
• Payment methods

12
eBook Implementation Issues

• Collection Integration / Discovery Support
• How does one catalog an ebook?
• How does one browse an ebook?
• Lack of interoperability among devices
• Loss of content with device is obsolete
• Vendors go out of business
• Loss of content

13
eBook Implementation Issues

• Physical Deployment Support
• Circulation
• What if device is lost or broken?
• Circulation of peripherals
• Batteries
• Clean-up of personal markings
• Ease of Use / Ease of Support
• Differing hardware software requirements
• Training of staff and patrons

14
eBook Implementation Issues

• Physical Deployment Support
• Resources
• Time
• Best uses for limited computers
• Permanence
• What will be the Betamax and what will be the
  VHS?
• Archiving and perpetual acess

15
Keep in mind

• Few ebook systems created with libraries in mind
• Possible for ebooks to bypass libraries
• There is growing competition in the information
  marketplace