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.

1. E-books –
between publishers
and library needs
Ksenija Mincic-Obradovic
Cataloguing Manager
k.obradovic@auckland.ac.nz
NZLLA Symposium
6 September 2012

2. 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

3. What is an e-book?
A monograph available in electronic format

4. 29
E-book Formats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats

5. E-book Readers
Desktop Mobile Phone
Stand-alone
Reading Device
Available via link, or downloaded

6. If you are confused, remember you
are not the only one confused.

7. http://assets.bizjournals.com/cms_media/images/ebookuniversel.png?site=techflash.com

8. 2011 Aptara e-book publishers survey
Available from http://www.aptaracorp.com/resources/

9. 2011 Aptara e-book publishers survey
Available from http://www.aptaracorp.com/resources/

10. Explore the options and limitations
to know what devices to match with
what content.

11. 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…)

12. Who are e-book publishers?
• Commercial publishers
• Non-commercial publishers (e.g.
governments)
• Individuals
• Aggregators
• Google Books
• Libraries
• …

13. 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.

14. 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superseded titles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

15. It is not realistic and not appropriate
to expect print and e-books to be
the same.

16. Influence on libraries
• Huge number of e-book licencing models
• Interlibrary loan is not normallyallowed
• Printing, downloading and copying and pasting
activities are limited

17. 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)

18. Discovery
Library catalogues Publishers/vendor
databases
• Searching all library • Full text searches
material, print and
eletronic monographs

19. Access to the three most
Patron preferred access in the ebrary’s
popular e-book collections at
Global eBook Survey (2007)
http://www.ebrary.com/corp/collateral/en/Survey/ebrary_eBook
the University of Auckland
_survey_2007.pdf Library in 2009

20. “The e-book is only as good as its metadata.”
Wouter van der Velde
Springer ANZ Summit
30-31 August 2012

21. SpringerLink usage at UoA
Year Titles Section requests Titles with usage
2007 34532 11834 2564
2008 34532 51375 6315
2009 37037 75011 8842

22. 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

23. Internet access or Downloading?
• 24/7 access • Limited period of time
• Requires internet access • Issues with format/standard
• Full text searches across compatibility
whole database • Portable
• Additional features: • Users love their e-book
dictionaries, links to other reading devices
resources, YouTube, Wikiped • Not all publishers/vendors
ia… allow downloading
• E-readers are fragile and too
expensive

24. Make sure your users know
what you have available for
them and how to use it.

25. 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

26. Permanent access
• Persistent URLs (particularly big problem with free e-
books)
• Preservation (LOCKSS, CLOCKSS)
Controlled LOCKSS
Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe

27. 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

28. Are e-books worth it?
Cons Pros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHX-SjgQvQ

29. Thank you
k.obradovic@auckland.ac.nz