Issue 12: Fall 2009 - Spotlight on E-books
E-books in the academic library market in 2009
This report summarizes the findings from a survey of 230 librarians in the United States who commented on their purchasing preferences as well as challenges and opportunities presented by e-books within their community. Key findings include:
- 60% of the libraries surveyed do not expect to cut their spending on e-books in 2010 in spite of the current economic context.
- Titles in the areas of reference, STM and business remain the most popular for e-books.
- “Pick & Choose” models and front list titles are largely preferred by librarians.
- Internal challenges and workflow changes cannot be underestimated and only 7% of the libraries in this study have a formal migration plan in place.
Interviews
- Cynthia Cleto of Springer, Global Manager for eBooks, tells us how Springer's strategy of working closely with librarians has benefited everyone by offering a platform that truly meets users' needs. She also offers some insights into how they deal with requests for perpetual access, long-term preservation and usage statistics.
- Sue Polanka, the voice behind the No Shelf Required blog , Head of Reference and Instruction for Wright State University Libraries, shares with us the impact e-books have had in her library internally and the benefits to their patrons. She also explains how they advertise their content and monitor usage statistics.
Cynthia and Sue also commented on the future of e-books and the many opportunities ahead. - A quick look into how e-books are perceived in Brazil , Adiene Teixeira gives us insights into how e-books are received in Brazil. She draws from her experience working with librarians in this market every day and agrees that the more flexibility publishers can offer, the better.
Did you know?
- In 2010, PCG Global Exhibits Program plans to travel to key conferences in Europe, South America, Asia and elsewhere to represent some of our publisher clients and to meet with local librarians on their behalf. If you would like to participate in this program, please contact Mark Fuller.
- PCG now has an office in Latin America; feel free to contact Adiene Teixeira to find out how PCG can help you further your reach within this territory.
- You can follow the latest discussions and updates of Publishing Technology by joining out Linked-In group.