1. E-profile
ebrary1
: A User-Centered Digital Library
of Interactive Content
Gerry McKiernan
LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005, pp. 31-39, # Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/07419050510588287 31
Imagine being able to send full text and
graphics documents (newspapers, maga-
zine articles, technical manuals etc.) over
electronic mail distribution networks.
These documents could be viewed on
any machine and any selected document
could be printed locally. This capability
would truly change the way information
is managed. Large centrally maintained
databases of documents could be ac-
cessed remotely and selectively printed
remotely (Warnock, 1991).
Portable document format
Portable document format (PDF) is a
file format developed by Adobe
Systems for representing documents in
a manner that is independent of the
original application software, and
operating system used to create those
documents. A PDF file can describe
documents containing any combination
of text, graphics, and images in a device
independent and resolution independent
format. These documents can be one
page or thousands of pages, very simple
or extremely complex with a rich use of
fonts, graphics, colour, and images
(Wikipedia, 2004). The PDF format was
initially an internal project at Adobe1
``to create a file format so that
documents could be spread throughout
the company and displayed on any
computer using any operating systems''
(www.prepressure. com/pdf/history/
history01.htm). It was outlined and
described by John Warnock, co-founder
of Adobe, in a White Paper titled ``The
Camelot Project'' (Warnock, 1991).
For Warnock, the Camelot Project
was an effort to ``define a new language
of operators and conventions'' (Warnock,
1991). Less than a decade later,
Christopher Warnock, the son of John
Warnock, launched ebrary1
, a digital
library that utilizes advanced PDF-based
technology to transform static PDF pages
into a ``highly interactive experience,
where users can interact with every word
in every document'' (http://
corp.ebrary.com/publishers/asp.jsp).
Prior to co-founding ebrary in 1999,
Christopher Warnock was employed at
Adobe as a systems engineer, project
manager, and product marketing manager
for Adobe1
Acrobat1
(www.ebrary.
com/company/exec.jsp).
ebrary employs a streaming
technology that delivers documents one
page at a time, providing end-users with
ready access to the document without
needing to download a complete work.
In addition, the underlying technology
of ebrary `` . . . deconstructs PDF and
builds a database that allows for the
support of several different business
and usage models. Incorporated within
this system is digital rights
management, full-text search, display
technology, multiple discovery engines
as well as some interfaces that . . . have
[been] developed to facilitate
integration'' (Strauch, 2004, p. 66).
Collection(s)
At present, ebrary offers access to
``more than 40,000 full-text books and
other documents from over 180 of the
world's leading academic, trade and
professional publishers'' (http://corp.
ebrary.com/libraries/features.jsp#010),
providing full-text, searchable
collections and sub-collections for all
major subject areas (www.ebrary.com/
libraries/dbcollections.jsp) (see below).
Aggregated databases
Academic
(1) Academic complete:
. > 19,197 titles (December 1,
2004).
. All content in aggregated
academic collections plus
> 1,050 maps of academic
interest.
. Also includes a rich collection
of hundreds of additional titles,
ranging from law to core
reference, that are not avail-
able in any other collection.
(2) Business and economics:
. > 3,644 titles (December 1,
2004).
. 75 percent published in 2000
or later.
. Supports both undergraduate
and postgraduate levels.
. Category strengths: business
administration, business prac-
tice, management, economic
development, economic his-
tory and theory, and interna-
tional business.
(3) Computers, technology, and engi-
neering:
. > 2,194 titles.
. 67 percent published in 2000
or later.
. Category strengths: computer
programming, networking,
software applications, engi-
neering, IT case studies, secur-
ity, and telecommunications.
(4) Humanities:
. > 5,287 titles.
. Covers a vast range of sub-
jects.
. Category strengths: history
(see below), language and
linguistics, literature and lit-
erary criticism, philosophy.

2. (5) Life sciences and physical
sciences:
. > 3,084 titles.
. Covers all fields in natural and
physical sciences.
. Category strengths: agriculture
and food science, environmen-
tal science, math and statistics,
medicine.
(6) Social and behavioral sciences:
. > 5,220 titles.
. Robust collection spanning the
full range of social science
disciplines.
. Category strengths: education
(see below), political science,
psychology, sociology.
(7) Other aggregated databases:
. Spanish language. Covers aca-
demic subject areas as well as
topics related to US citizenship
and also includes a strong
fiction collection.
Within the humanities grouping, the
history sub-collection, 65 percent of the
titles were published in 2000 or later.
Particular strengths of the sub-
collection include Africa, Ancient
Greece and Rome, Asia, Eastern and
Western Europe, China, Great Britain,
Historiography, Middle East, Military
History, Reference, Russia (pre- and
post-Soviet Union) and the USA. The
education sub-collection is a particular
strength of the social and behavioral
sciences, with 60 percent of its titles
published since 1999; its focus includes
administration, adult and continuing
education, bilingual education,
computers and technology in the
classroom, curricula, educational
psychology, elementary education,
higher education, pedagogical research,
secondary education, special education,
and teaching methods and materials.
In addition to its full and sub-
collections, ebrary offers are range of
``publisher branded'' collections,
notably:
. Byron HoytTM
Digital
Sheet music titles for bands, or-
chestras, instrumentalists and voc-
alists of all levels. This collection
includes classical titles from the
major classical composers (e.g.
Bach, Beethoven, Mozart,) as well
as a collection of early US sheet
music titles published between
1850 and 1920 (www.ebrary.com/
collateral/ebrary-byronhoyt.pdf).
. Datamonitor Industry ReportsTM
Provides current profiles of ``38
major industrial and consumer
sectors across the world's leading
economies'' (www.ebrary.com/
collateral/ebrary-datamonitor.pdf).
. D&B International Business Re-
ports
Reports and guides including three
of D&B's most popular products:
D&B's Country ReportTM
, Country
RiskLineTM
, and Export GuidesTM
.
Offers ``timely information [that]
provides a complete picture of
up-to-date international business
statistics, trends, and regulations''
(http://corp.ebrary.com/collateral/
ebrary-dnb.pdf).
. Harris InfoSource Industry and
Manufacturing Reports
Provides a comprehensive over-
view of major US industry sectors
as well as individual companies,
including three of the leading
Harris InfoSource products: Harris
Industry ReportsTM
, Harris Major
Companies ReportsTM
, and Harris
State Manufacturing ReportsTM
(www.ebrary.com/collateral/ebrary-
harris.pdf).
. SME SourceTM
(Society of Manu-
facturing Engineers)
Books, journals and technical
papers in manufacturing engineer-
ing, including the nine-volume
Tool and Manufacturing Engineers
Handbook series, current and all
back volumes of Journal of Man-
ufacturing Systems and the Journal
of Manufacturing Processes (www.
ebrary.com/collateral/ebrary-sme.
pdf) (www.ebrary.com/libraries/
dbcollections.jsp).
Public library complete
ebrary also offers public libraries a
comprehensive, searchable collection
of more than 6,700 full-text books,
maps and other documents from more
than 90 leading publishers that span
practical, professional and educational
subject areas. The ebrary Public Library
Complete collection includes eight
aggregated sub-collections, which may
also be purchased separately and
include:
(1) Practical and professional databases
. Business and personal finance.
. Careers and professional
development.
. Computers and technology.
. Psychology and self-help.
(2) Educational databases
. Arts and literature.
. Education and study.
. History.
. Philosophy, religion and spiri-
tuality.
The Public Library Complete
collection also features a rich collection
of more than 1,000 maps as well as
hundreds of additional titles in such
subject areas as health and travel that
are not available in the individual
subordinate collections (www.ebrary.
com/libraries/lib-public.jsp).
The majority (60 percent) of titles in
ebrary was published in 2000 or later
(www.ebrary.com/libraries/features.jsp).
A spreadsheet of available titles for
various ebrary collections is available
on request (www.ebrary.com/forms/
info.jsp).
Publishers
ebrary includes content provided by
more than 180 of the world's leading
publishers (www.ebrary.com/publishers/
book.jsp) representing a range of major
commercial and popular publishing
houses, scholarly publishers, university
presses and national and international
governmental agencies that include:
. Allen & Unwin.
. Archaeological Institute of America.
. Bantam Dell.
. BMJ Books.
. Butterworth-Heinemann.
. Cambridge University Press.
. Columbia University Press.
. Cornell University Press.
. Dell Publishing.
. Doubleday.
. Elsevier Science.
. Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations.
. Garland Publishing.
32 LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005

3. . Gower Publishing.
. Greenwood Press.
. Imperial College Press.
. International Labour Organization.
. Island Press.
. John Wiley & Sons.
. Karger.
. Kluwer Academic.
. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
. Library of Congress.
. The McGraw-Hill Companies.
. Marcel Dekker.
. MIT Press.
. Modern Library.
. National Academies Press.
. Oryx Press.
. Praeger Publishers.
. RAND Corporation.
. Random House.
. Routledge.
. Society of Manufacturing Engi-
neers.
. Stanford University Press.
. Taylor & Francis.
. University of California Press.
. Viking Penguin.
. The World Bank.
. World Health Organization.
. Yale University Press.
(www.ebrary.com/publishers/list.jsp).
Selection
The selection, assessment, and
review criteria used by ebrary ``have
been heavily influenced by standards set
forth by the Research Libraries Group
(RLG), the North American Collections
Inventory Project'' . . . in the Guide for
Written Collection Development Policy
Statements (2nd ed.) (Bryant, 1989).
``The selection criteria for books, and
other publications, chosen for . . . . [the
ebrary] collections require all
publications to meet one or more of the
following standards:
. it must directly serve the informa-
tional needs of the academic,
special, or public library markets;
. it must be recently published as set
forth by professional association
standards, be of significance in its
field, and published by a valued
and recognized publisher;
. it must be purchased in print form by
a large cross-section of institutions
served, indicating a high standard of
excellence, authority, and interest
within markets served (www.ebrar-
y.com/libraries/policies.jsp).
ebrary ReaderTM
The ebrary ReaderTM
is a software
plug-in for Windows and Macintosh
browsers that enables the user to
navigate, browse, copy, and print
documents, as well perform basic,
advanced, and enhanced functions in
the ebrary digital library (http://
librarycenter.ebrary.com/support/
tools00_en.html).
ebrary InfoToolsTM
menu is a pull-
down component of the ebrary
ReaderTM
that allows a user to readily
link to definitions, encyclopedia
entries, maps, translations, or biography
information for any term in a document
as well as to perform standard and
advanced navigation functions (see
Figure 1) (http://librarycenter.ebrary.
com/support/tools00_en.html).
The ebrary InfoToolsTM
menu offers
of a variety of reference functions
(``define'', ``explain'', ``locate'',
``translate'', and ``who''), standard and
enhanced search functions (``search
document'', ``search all documents'',
``search web''), user-centered features
(``highlight'', ``add to bookshelf'',
``copy text'', ``copy bookmark''),
printing (``print'' ``print again''),
special features (``toggle automenu'',
``preferences'') http://librarycenter.
ebrary.com/Help?page=tools00) and
have the following functionalities.
Reference functions
. Define. Search for dictionary defi-
nitions of selected term(s) or
phrase.
. Explain. Search for encyclopedia
entries of selected term(s) or
phrase.
. Locate. Access maps related to
selected term(s) or phrase.
. Translate. Translate selected sec-
tions to/from French, German,
Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese.
. Who. Find phone information,
postal and email addresses, biogra-
phies, and bibliographies for the
selected term(s) (see Figure 2).
For the ``define'', ``explain'' and
``translate'' function, users can select a
maximum of ten words in a document.
Searching
. Search document. Search the cur-
rent document for the selected
term(s) or phrase.
. Search all documents. Search all
documents in the ebrary collection
for the selected terms(s) or phrase.
. Search web. Search the web for the
selected term(s) or phrase.
User-centered
. Highlight. Using a virtual high-
lighter, users can highlight portions
of text in one of three colors
(yellow, pink, and blue). High-
lighted portions are copied into
the contents/notes/highlights sec-
tion of the ebrary ReaderTM
.
. Add to bookshelf. This function
allows the user to copy the title
(and associated web address) to a
personal virtual ``bookshelf'' for
future use.
. Copy text. The user can copy the
selected text for pasting into a text
Figure 1
Portion of ebrary InfoToolsTM
menu and tool bar (librarycenter.ebrary.com/
support/tools00_en.htm)
LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005 33

4. editor. A bibliographic citation is
automatically included.
. Copy bookmark. Activating this
function allows the user to copy
the web address for a specific
document section and saved in a
browser bookmarks (or ``favor-
ites'') feature.
Printing
. Print. User can specify particular
pages.
. Print again. Allows the user to
print selected pages if a printer
problem has occurred.
Special features
. Toggle automenu. Allows the user
to set the ebrary InfoToolsTM
menu
to pop up (or not) after selecting
desired text.
. Preferences. Allows the user to set
the default zoom factor (100, 150
or 200 percent), highlight color,
table of contents, and menu pre-
ferences.
ebrary InfoToolsTM
can be
``customized to link researchers to other
digital resources within . . . [a
particular] library, including ILS
[integrated library] systems [(OPACs)],
abstracts and reference databases, or
information on the World Wide Web''
(www.ebrary.com/libraries/features.jsp
#080). In addition, ebrary has made
available a ``free set of XML-based web
APIs [known as ebrary eXtend] that
enables ebrary partners and customers
to seamlessly integrate ebrary content
and functionality using their own
interface, existing infrastructure and
brand. With eXtend, organizations can
provide a better end user experience
and increase usage . . . . eXtend also
''enables, single point access and
supports OpenURL initiatives and
federated search'' (www.ebrary.com/
api/).
Full MARC21 records are available
for ebrary documents that include 856
fields directly linked to each ebrary
document (www.ebrary.com/index.jsp).
Discover
ebrary offers a variety of basic and
advanced searching and browsing
features and functions that include:
. Simple search
The ``simple'' search functions as a
keyword search in which all
occurrences of search terms (or
phrases) are searched in the full
text, as well as the title, subject,
author, and/or publisher fields. A
phrase can be searched by enclos-
ing the terms between two double
quotes.
. Advanced search
In the ``advanced'' search option,
users are provided with two sets of
search fields. By default, the first
search term will perform a text
search, while the second search
term will perform a subject search.
Using a drop-down menu the
setting (``text'', ``subject'', ``title'',
``author'', or ``publisher'') can be
changed for either.
The search will be performed in
``all documents'' (i.e. ``books'',
``journals'', ``maps'', ``reports'',
or ``sheet music'') and/or ``all
languages'' (i.e. ``English'', ``Por-
tuguese'' or ``Spanish''). A search
can be limited to a specific docu-
ment type and/or language by
selecting the option of interest
from an associated drop-down
menu. The user can request addi-
tional fields by clicking on the
hotlinked ``more'' option (see
Figure 3).
. Boolean and proximity searching
Readers can also perform Boolean
searches in a ``simple'' search option
using standard operators as capital
letters (e.g. ``and'', ``or'', and ``not'')
between terms or phrases in e.g.
``digital and libraries''). A proximity
Figure 2
Details of a sample ``Who'' reference option available from the ebrary InfoToolsTM
menu (corp.ebrary.com/publishers/asp.jsp)
34 LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005

5. function (within) is also available
(e.g. Nixon within-10 McNamara
[Retrieve those records where the
word ``Nixon'' is within ten words
of the word ``McNamara'']).
. Search results
By default, the search results are
sorted by ``score'', which displays
the most relevant results first. If
there are more than ten documents,
results are shown on multiple
pages. The results can be re-sorted
by ``title'', ``contributor'' or
``date'' (see Figure 3, upper right-
hand corner).
Search results are displayed in a
secondary, right-hand frame that
occupies more than two-thirds of
the web page (see Figure 3). For
each retrieved item, an image of
the cover for the associated docu-
ment is provided, if available; a
``result'' number (e.g. ``1''); a
score (e.g. ``57%''); hotlinked title
(e.g. ``consciousness evolving'')
linked to the first occurrence of
the search term or phrase (e.g.
``Stevan Harnad''); document type
(e.g. ``book''); pagination (e.g.
``273 pages''), and ``view'' hotlink
that serves as a secondary link to
the first occurrence of the search
term or phrase. To the right of this
data and information in the same
frame, is brief bibliographic data
that includes the names of the
``contributor'' [author], ``publish-
er'', ``date'' [year of publication],
``LC call number'', ``ISBN'', and
associated Library of Congress
subject headings (see Figure 3).
The name of the contributor and
name of the publisher are hotlinked
and provide ready access to other
works written by a particular
author or issued by a particular
publisher within the ebrary digital
library. In addition, the assigned
Library of Congress subject head-
ings are also hotlinked and like-
wise provide direct access to other
works within ebrary assigned the
same headings.
. Browse
ebrary can also be browsed using
of the topics associated with the
Library of Congress classification
scheme. On clicking the hotlinked
``browse'' option ``search'' tab (see
Figure 3), an alphabetized listing
of the broad topics is displayed.
The approximate number of
titles pertaining to a general (or
specific) topic is displayed in
parentheses to the right of a topic
(e.g. ``Agriculture (191)''). A topic
can be expanded by clicking on a
``+'' (plus) symbol located to the
left of topic. Clicking on a parti-
cular hotlinked topic, either full or
expanded, will retrieve those docu-
ments associated with the topic and
display the selected document in a
right-hand frame (see Figure 4).
The ebrary search interface lan-
guage can be specified by selecting
the available options (i.e. English
(default), EspanÄol (Spanish), or
PortuguÃes (Portuguese)) from a
pull-down menu.
Optimize
Users can read a retrieved document
using a variety of navigation tools. By
selecting the hotlinked title (e.g.
``consciousness evolving''), the first
page containing the search term or
phrase of the selected document is
retrieved and displayed in a far right
window, while a table of contents for
the work is displayed in a middle frame.
Bibliographic details are displayed in a
left-side window (see Figure 5).
Users can ``page flip'' through the
document using the outline, or
alternately, select from one of several
options made available in a navigation
tool bar. The tool bar options allow
users to navigate sequentially, move to
the next occurrence of the search term
or phrase by using a different function,
or, jump to a particular page within the
document by clicking on an icon
associated with this feature (``go to
page number''). In addition, the tool bar
offers a zoom function, a highlighting
feature with three color options
(yellow, pink, or blue), and most
importantly, a bookmark function and
annotation feature (see Figure 1).
Expand
As noted previously, ebrary offers of
a variety of reference functions, notably
``define'', ``explain'', ``locate'',
``translate'', and ``who''. To activate
any of these functions, the user must
first select (highlight) the text of interest
(e.g. word, phrase, sentence) within an
ebrary page, and then select the function
of interest from the ``InfoTools menu''.
Figure 3
Sample ebrary ``Advanced'' search window (left) and search results (right)
LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005 35

6. The selection of the ``define'' function
for a term (e.g. ``consciousness'') will
open and display an entry in a web-
based dictionary, while selection of the
``explain'' function will link to an entry
(or listing of entries) within the
Encyclopñdia Britannica Online
(www.britannica.com).
Using the ``locate'' function, users
can highlight geographic place names
from with ebrary document and
subsequently link to one of three free
major web-based geographic information
sources: ``MapQuest US Cities'',
``National Geographic'', or ``Yahoo! US
Cities'' for a variety of map types for a
place name. The ``National Geographic''
option links to the ``MapMachine'', the
free online atlas provided by the National
Geographic Society (http://plasma.
nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/).
The ``translate'' function allows the
user to translate a selected term, phrase,
or text to (or from) one of several
common European languages (e.g.
French, German, Italian, Portuguese)
by feeding the selected text to the Babel
Fish Translation service (http://
babelfish.altavista.com) (see Figure 6).
The ``who'' function allows the user to
select a variety of identification sources
(i.e. ``phone book'', ``post address'',
``e-mail address'', ``biography'', or
``bibliography''). While the ``phone
book'', ``post address'' and ``e-mail''
options execute a search in Yahoo!
People search service, the ``biography''
option links to the A&E cable network
site Biography.com which displays the
search results for the selected name.
The ``bibliography'' option searches for
occurrences of an author's name
anywhere in the ebrary digital library.
ebrary InfoToolsTM
can be
``customized to link researchers to other
digital resources within the library,
including . . . ILS [integrated library]
systems [(OPACs)], abstracts and
reference databases, or information on
the World Wide Web'' (www.
ebrary.com/libraries/features.jsp#080).
Searching
In addition to enabling users to
search a given work, the ebrary
InfoToolTM
allows users to ``search all
documents'' from within a document by
first selecting a term, name, or phrase
(``natural consciousness'') within a
ebrary document and the ``search all
documents'' option of interest (``text'',
``author'', ``subject'', ``title'',
``publisher'') from the InfoToolsTM
menu. Search results will be displayed
in a new browser window, with entries
ranked in relevancy order. In addition,
users are presented with the option of
searching select text in one of five
major web search engines (``web
search'') (i.e. all the Web, Alta Vista,
Go, Google, Yahoo!).
Among other noteworthy user-
centered features in ebrary are ``add to
Figure 4
Screen print of first record from a selected ``Agriculure'' browse category in ebrary
Figure 5
Screen print of the first page of an ebrary1
document (right) and document table
of contents outline (middle)
36 LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005

7. bookshelf'', ``copy text'', and ``copy
bookmark''. The ``copy text'' allows the
user to copy selected text and to
subsequently paste it into text editor (e.g.
Notepad) or a word processing
document; a full citation is provided with
the selected text. As noted, the ``add to
bookshelf'' feature copies the title of the
selected document title (and associated
address) into a personal virtual bookshelf
(see Figure 7). Before using the
bookshelf features and functions, users
must first register, and sign-in with a
previously established username and
password. Previously created
``bookshelf'' items, including
highlighted text, can be accessed by
selecting the ``bookshelf'' tab found to
the right of the ``search'' and ``view'' tab
found in the left-side frame. As
previously noted, ``copy bookmark''
allows the user to readily copy the web
address for a specific document section
and save it in a browser's favorites/
bookmarks menu (e.g. ``add to favorites''
(Microsoft Internet Explorer)).
User assistance
ebrary provides extensive user
assistance throughout its service that
include extensive ``help'' functions,
various FAQs (e.g. www.ebrary.com/
libraries/faq.jsp), a ``quick tour'', and a
``library center'', among others. The
library center site ``is intended to
provide librarians and students with
important research materials, industry
news and information related to
librarianship and related fields.'' The
site allows users to ``search and browse
through more than 45 full-text books
spanning topics such as digital library
development, general collection
development, and the history of
libraries and librarianship, as well as
illustrated guides from the Library of
Congress'' (http://librarycenter.ebrary.
com). Sample titles available from the
site include Collection Development for
the 21st Century: A Handbook for
Librarians, Digital Libraries and
Multimedia, and Serials Management
in Academic Libraries: A Guide to
Issues & Practices. In addition, select
back issues of Advanced Technology
Libraries ± a leading industry
newsletter that offers a concise monthly
review of information technology
relevant to academic, public and special
libraries. The ``quick tour'' (http://
corp.ebrary.com/tour/) offers a
nine-slide presentation on the core
features and functionalities. A variety
of library promotional material is also
available and includes booksmarks,
brochures (e.g. www.ebrary.com/
collateral/ebrary_brochure.pdf), flyers,
`Getting Started Guides', logos and
graphics, PowerPoint screen shots, and
web site copy, among other items
(www.ebrary.com/libraries/promo/). A
24-page _ebrary Patron User Guide is
available from Marty Moe
(marty.moe@ebrary.com) Director of
Marketing, ebrary on request.
Access options
Subscription
``Unlike traditional `single check-
out' eBook models [such as
netLibrary], or per-seat, concurrent
database site licenses, ebrar offers
simultaneous, multi-user access from
any web-enabled computer'' on a
subscription basis (http://corp.
ebrary.com/libraries/features.jsp#010).
Figure 6
ebrary InfoToolsTM
includes a ``Translate'' function that allows the user to
translate a limited amount of document text to (or from) select languages
Figure 7
Screen print of sample personal virtual ebrary1
``Bookshelf'' with sample annotated,
``Add to bookshelf'', and highlighted content
LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005 37

8. Pricing is based on the type of library
and the number of full time equivalent
(FTE) students. Access to added
content is provided at no additional cost
during the subscription term,
affordable. Multi-year contracts and
special pricing are available through
regional networks and consortia.
Participating consortia, regional
networks, and resellers include
AMIGOS Library Services, CIC
(Committee on Institutional
Cooperation), Coutts, GWLA (Greater
Western Library Alliance), MINITEX
Library Information Network,
NELINET, Inc. (New England's
Library & Information Services
Network), NERL (North East Research
Libraries Consortium), OHIONET,
PALINET, and WILS (Wisconsin
Library Services) , among several other
American and international groups
(www.ebrary.com/libraries/subscribe.jsp).
A price quote can be requested by
submitting an ebrary Information
Request (http://corp.ebrary.com/forms/
info.jsp) or by contacting an ebrary
representative (http://corp.ebrary.com/
contact/).
Discover ebrary1
In May 2003, ebrary formally
launched a pay-per-view service known
as Discover ebrary (http://discover.
ebrary.com) that provides access to
more than ``20,000 full-text books in
multiple academic and general interest
subject areas, sheet music titles and
reports.'' As with the ebrary institution-
based service, Discover ebrary offers
``advanced research technology,
highlights, bookmarks, annotations and
more'' (www.ebrary.com/news/
030513a.jsp).
Open access
In addition to its subscription and
ebrary Discover models, ebrary can
technologically support Open Access as
a distribution model. An Open Access
option would allow publishers to ``have
their content downloaded, viewed,
printed and copied without any fee or
restriction.'' While it has not yet had a
publisher or a university request that
ebrary make documents available under
the Open Access model, it intends ``to
facilitate Open Access when a publisher
or institution is interested'' (Strauch,
2004, p. 68)
Reporting and usage statistics
ebrary offers reporting tools and
usage statistics to International
Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC)
standards (International Coalition of
Library Consortia, 1998). ``Libraries
may use these tools to track activity over
a certain time period, see which
documents have been viewed, copied or
printed, and determine the number of
individual researchers that have
accessed and used the database (www.
ebrary.com/libraries/features.jsp#080).
ebrary ``logs each user interaction with a
document at the page and transaction
level, which provides organizations
with key data about their . . . [users] and
how documents are viewed and used''
(www.ebrary.com/technology/ ).
Customers
Currently ``[m]ore than 300 libraries
throughout the world currently subscribe
to ebrary including Yale University
Library, Princeton University Library,
University of Southern California
Libraries, The University of Auckland
Library, Ivy Tech State College Library,
University of Utah Libraries, Stanford
University Libraries, University of
Malaya Library, Brigham Young
University Libraries, National
University Library, Staffordshire
University Library, University of San
Francisco Library, Westminster College,
Giovale Library'', among many others
(www.ebrary.com/partners/).
Licensing
ebrary licenses its ``unique database
technology to organizations that need to
securely distribute their own content
over the internet to reduce costs,
increase revenues and improve
efficiency'' (www.ebrary.com/
company/). The American Library
Association (ALA), Byron Hoyt, Primis
Custom Publishing (McGraw-Hill),
Stanford University are among the
publishers and organization that have
licensed the ebrary technology
(www.ebrary.com/partners/). ALA is
using ebrary to distribute and archive
American Libraries magazine, while
the Special Libraries Association (SLA)
is using ebrary technology to distribute
and archive Information Outlook, the
news journal of the organization
(Strauch, 2004, p. 66).
ebrary team
ebrary is a privately held company
and is funded by Random House
Ventures LLC, Pearson plc and The
McGraw-Hill Companies (www.
ebrary.com/company/). Its Advisory
Board include Roger Summit (Founder,
Former CEO, and Chairman Emeritus
of the Dialog Corporation), Michael A.
Keller (University Librarian and
Director, Academic Information
Resources, Stanford University and
publisher of High Wire Press), Craig
Cline (Vice President, Program
DevelopmentZiff-Davis Events), Mario
Rosati (Partner, Wilson Sonsini
Goodrich & Rosati), and Heidi Kuhn
(President, Newslink International)
(www.ebrary.com/company/advisory.jsp).
The ebrary Board of Directors
include Christopher Warnock (CEO),
Kevin Sayar (President), Mohamad
Al-Baghdadi (Vice President,
International Sales), Richard Sarnoff
(President, Random House New Media
and Corporate Development Group),
Philip Hoffman (CEO, Learning
Network, a Subsidiary of Pearson plc),
and John Warnock (co-Chairman,
Adobe Systems Incorporated)
(www.ebrary.com/company/board.jsp).
The ebrary Executive Staff include
Christopher Warnock (CEO and CTO),
Kevin Sayar (President), David Bass
(Senior Vice President of Sales and
Marketing),, Mohamad Al-Baghdadi
(Vice President, International Sales),
Christopher Radcliffe (Vice President,
Engineering), Tom Santos (Vice
President, Advanced Technologies, and
Neal Strickberger (Vice President,
Operations) (www.ebrary.com/
company/exec.jsp).
Free trial
ebrary offers a fully functional 30
day IP-authenticated trial program for
qualifying libraries for patrons,
employees, faculty and staff (http://
corp.ebrary.com/trialsignup/)
Note: This review was based on site
documentation and use of a trial
subscription in mid-December 2004.
38 LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005

9. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author is grateful to David R.
Fritsch, ebrary Mid-States Regional
Sales Manager, and Tish Wagner,
ebrary Director of Library Relations,
for their assistance in the preparation of
this review and for permission to
reproduce select screen prints.
REFERENCES
Bryant, B. (Ed.) (1989), Guide for Written
Collection Development Policy Statements,
2nd ed., American Library Association,
Chicago, IL.
International Coalition of Library Consortia
(1998), Guidelines for Statistical Measures of
Usage of Web-based Indexed, Abstracted,
and Full-Text Resources, available at:
www.library.yale.edu/consortia/webstats.html
(accessed 12 December 2004).
Strauch, K. (2004), ``ATG interviews
Christopher Warnock'', Against the Grain,
Vol. 16 No. 3, June, available at: www.
ebrary.com/news/atg_warnock_interview.pdf,
pp. 66-9 (accessed 12 December).
Warnock, J. (1991), ``The Camelot Project'',
available at: www.planetpdf.com/
mainpage.asp?webpageid=1851 (accessed 7
December 2004).
Wikipedia (n.d.), ``Portable Document
Format'', available at: http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/ Portable_Document_Format
(accessed 7 December 2004).
Gerry McKiernan (gerrymck@iastate.
edu) is a Science and Technology
Librarian and Bibliographer, Iowa
State University Library, Ames, Iowa,
USA.
LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 1 2005 39