Jill Lambert

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• Jill Lambert
• Team Leader and Head of Public Services
• Library Information Services
• Aston University

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E-books

• E-book readers
• Benefits and problems of e-book use
• Issues and challenges of e-book development
• JISC developments

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E-book readers

• Use a dedicated e-book reader eg Gemstar
• Use a Pocket PC or PDA eg Palm
• Use a desktop or laptop PC
• (JISC definition - online version of printed
  books, accessed via the Internet)

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Benefits for libraries

• Saving on space
• Cannot be lost, damaged or stolen
• Less clerical administration
• no processing
• no overdues
• no reservation queues
• No shelving

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Benefits for users

• Convenience instant access from the desktop
• Integration with other electronic resources
• Improved searching facilities
• Aid for additional needs eg enlarge font, pages
  turned, use screen reading or magnification
  software
• Different mode of reading

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Problems

• Need a reading device
• Not as accessible or reliable as print
• High costs of titles
• VAT is payable
• Proprietary formats
• Users dislike reading extensive text on screen

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Issues in e-book development

• Design - EBONI guidelines
• Content
• Publishing economics
• Pricing models
• Controlling access to content

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EBONI

• Electronic Books ON-screen Interface Project
• Two principal factors affecting design
• - appearance of information on-screen
• - look and feel of e-book hardware
• Easy to get lost or stray with ebooks

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EBONI guidelines

• Table of contents and index as well as a search
  engine
• Clear headings and a lot of white space
• Text in small chunks
• Hypertext links to improve navigation and cross
  referencing
• Book marking, highlighting and annotating
  features

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Content

• Lack of availability in electronic format
• Dominated by US market
• Few textbooks available electronically
• Currency problem of older editions of textbooks
  
• Books not designed to be read on screen

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Publishing economics

• Libraries fear instability
• Publishers fear
• - loss income from multiple copy purchasing
• - e-books will replace individual purchasing
• Aggregators may have to pay costs of conversion

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Pricing models

• Annual subscription with site licence eg CRC
  Press
• Purchase plus annual access fee eg NetLibrary
• Annual subscription based on number of titles eg
  Safari
• Three year subscription to collection eg new JISC
  e-books offer
• Free titles eg PubMed

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Controlling access to content

• Pay by use (for individuals)
• One book, one reader model (NetLibrary)
• Multi-user, simultaneous access model, eg ebrary,
  Wiley
• Multi-user, limit on simultaneous access eg
  Taylor and Francis
• Slot system eg Safari

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Challenges

• Identifying titles
• Selection
• Delivery

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Identification

• Lack of bibliographical control
• Contacts in other institutions
• Promotional information from publishers and
  aggregators
• Attending exhibitions
• Web sites listing e-books

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Selection

• Need support from academics
• Receptive clientele
• Meet publishers criteria
• - minimum number of titles
• - appropriate subject collections
• Consider free titles

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Delivery

• Cataloguing
• Publicity - on a continuing basis
• On-going maintenance of collection
• Monitoring technical access

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JISC initiatives

• E-books Working Group
• Electronic book collections
• JISC studies

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JISC electronic book collections

• Wiley InterScience Online Books
• 11 collections
• 290 titles from 4 disciplines
• three year deal with unlimited concurrent use
• PDF format
• ATHENS

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JISC Studies

• E-books - attitudes and needs
• Electronic textbooks
• Free e-books
• Promoting uptake of electronic books

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