E-BOOKS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: AN INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW

This paper provides a broad international overview of e-books in academic libraries. The inconsistent terminology relating to e-books is noted in the first section and a brief history of e-books and some current definitions are given. The stakeholders within the e-book industry are described, with details of some of the services offered. For users and staff in library and information services, e-books can provide a variety of advantages as well as challenges, and these are outlined for those in academic libraries. Findings from various studies on e-books are presented and some of the issues involved in managing e-books in academic libraries are described. Finally an overview is presented of the e-Books Working Group in the United Kingdom. The paper is illustrated with a number of screenshots related to e-books in academic libraries in various parts of the world.     

Understanding Academic E-books Through the Diffusion of Innovations Theory as a Basis for Developing Effective Marketing and Educational Strategies

Academic libraries are choosing to purchase electronic books (e-books) rather than print more frequently for multiple reasons. Unfortunately, e-books are not being used as much as they should be. With increasing academic e-book collections, many studies have examined student and faculty use of and attitudes towards this innovation. This paper will analyze the results in this area of research and align them with the Diffusion of Innovations Theory that includes the Rogers Diffusion of Innovations Curve, innovation categories, and the factors affecting the diffusion process of an innovation. This analysis will give libraries a better understanding of who is using academic e-books, why academic e-books are being used, and how to influence the behaviour of the academic libraries' patrons to increase their use of academic e-books. An analysis of these three areas will help libraries to develop effective marketing and education strategies aimed at increasing e-book usage.     

国外高校图书馆电子书利用权益相关问题探究

电子书在国外高校图书馆的使用主要存在如下问题:①对于图书馆读者使用电子书的限制:对于浏览、打印、下载和传送文件的限制;数字版权管理的限制。②图书馆文献流通和馆际互借的限制:对于用户数量和用户类型的限制;对于流通的限制;对于以课程储备为目的的电子书使用的限制和对于馆际互借的限制; ③电子书阅读器在高校图书馆的借阅限制:专有软件和文件格式的限制;不能离线访问的限制;用户设备上的电子书存在被撤销的潜在可能。应对许可限制最直接的方法就是从供应商处获取不限制使用的电子书、与其他图书馆和联盟合作从为用户争取最大权益的角度出发与出版商谈判对图书馆界有利的许可条款,并尽量购买供应商提供可接受的条款的电子书,同时培养用户良好的电子书使用习惯。     

Academic e-Book Publishing in China: An Investigation of Current Status and Publishers' Attitudes

This study investigates the current status and attitudes towards academic e-book publishing by mainland Chinese academic publishers through an online survey. This study collected survey data from 49 authoritative academic publishers in China, focusing on their e-book sales profiles and their perceptions of how e-book sales affect publishers and libraries. The data reveals that China's academic e-book industry is still at an early development stage and has a relatively small market. The findings show significant differences in the willingness and attitudes towards e-book publishing between SSH publishers and STEM publishers, and also demonstrate that the enhancement of the demand for e-books by academic libraries promotes the process of the digital transformation of academic publishers. This study then argues that Chinese academic publishers need to further improve the quality of academic e-books, accelerate the transition from academic content providers to academic content service providers, and strengthen their cooperation with stakeholders.     

E-book ILL in Academic Libraries: A Three-Year Trend Report

In spite of the widespread trend of e-book adoption by U.S. academic libraries, interlibrary loan (ILL) of e-books is significantly lagging behind because of license agreement restrictions, unstandardized platforms, library policies, and technological barriers. More recently, the long-cherished tradition of ILL has been further challenged, because an increasing number of academic libraries are adopting user-based e-book purchasing models that have the potential to bypass ILL. This paper compares the findings of two longitudinal surveys on e-book ILL practices in U.S. academic libraries, based on random sampling. The results from inferential statistical analyses reveal that, while inter-library lending of entire e-books is seldom practiced and shows no growth, e-book chapter ILL is becoming more prevalent in U.S. academic libraries. Librarians have grown more knowledgeable about licensing and technological issues, but their perceptions of these barriers are mixed. The study also shows that larger institutions are more likely to perform e-book ILL services, and their librarians tend to be more positive about the future of e-book ILL.     

E-books, the latest word: proceedings from the Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge

A panel which included a librarian, publisher and e-book providers presented issues confronting the growth of e-books in the academic library marketplace. The e-book market projections are a small part of the higher education book market. Frontlist titles are demanded by libraries with suppliers eager to supply such titles. However, publishers are feeling their way through various rights and contract issues as well as business models as they determine which frontlist titles to provide in electronic form. The instability of business partners has contributed to publisher delays in releasing titles as e-books. No one, (librarians, suppliers, publishers) is throwing in the towel on e-books but the position this format takes in the publishing industry and therefore in library collections in the near future is unsettled.     

Academic Libraries as Digital Gateways: Linking Students to the Burgeoning Wealth of Open Online Collections

ABSTRACT

Digital collections of full-text e-books are proliferating on the Web and provide a wealth of open content for students. To examine whether academic libraries are providing a digital gateway to these resources, ten e-book titles from open digital collections were searched in the online catalogs and Web pages of ten academic libraries serving distance learners. Only three of the digital collection e-books were available from any of the library catalogs, and none were found on library Web pages. Availability of the ten e-book titles through Google and other digital discovery tools also had mixed results. Continued projects for improved delivery of open online content are necessary. In order to fulfill their role as digital gateways for their academic communities, libraries must pursue metadata standards to support cross-searching, collaborative projects, and development of e-resource search software, which integrates with the library catalog.     

From the ACRL 13th National Conference: E-Book Use Versus Users' Perspective

ABSTRACT

At the beginning of this decade, research on e-books clearly indicated that e-books were neither well received nor desired by students in higher education. However, in the past few years, academic institutions have begun reporting very good use rates for e-books. In this article, the change taking place in e-book use is explored. Faculty and student preference for reading print books, and not e-books, is the background for exploring the effects of forced adoption and user adaptation on e-book use in a small academic institution. In addition, the effect that relative advantage, current adoption rates, cultural norms, publishers' business models, and print book/e-book competition are having on current and future e-book use are discussed.     

Are We There Yet? Moving to an E-Only Collection Development Policy for Books

Kate Moore’s presentation gave audience members an overview of the current e-book environment in academic libraries. Her presentation included a review of the literature on motivations for moving to an e-preferred collection development policy, information on user preferences and behavior with e-books, and technological barriers and other obstacles that still impede library uptake of e-books. She concluded with a list of items to consider when incorporating e-books into a collection development policy.     

Demand-Driven E-book Program in Tallinn University of Technology Library: The First Two Years of Experience with the EBL Platform

ABSTRACT

The ease and effectiveness of patron-driven (demand-driven) acquisitions has helped to optimize many academic libraries’ acquisitions budgets. Libraries are increasingly turning to e-books as an alternative to purchasing multiple copies. Academic libraries have for years been forced to purchase large packages of e-books that are of questionable financial value because so much of the content is not used. The number of content units downloaded from large e-book packages by university patrons is not growing. At the same time, the number of checkouts of print books is declining. Advantages of e-books over print are discussed. Also mentioned are a few drawbacks, particularly the fact that European Union countries impose a higher level of value-added tax (VAT) on them than on print books. The author presents a case study analyzing the first two years of experience with the Ebook Library (EBL) platform at the Tallinn University of Technology Library, giving an overview of the advantages and successful measures of demand-driven acquisition in the form of short-term loans.     

基于信息生态链的学术电子书产业链信息协同模式研究

在学术电子书产业链的发展过程中,信息协同起着越来越重要的作用,研究信息协同模式有利于进一步明晰产业链各节点企业的协同内容和方式。本文在阐述学术电子书产业链信息协同的内涵和原因的基础上,引入信息生态链理论,分析学术电子书产业链信息协同的动因及影响因素,最后构建学术电子书产业链信息协同模式。本研究对学术电子书产业链采取信息协同管理,以提高当前学术电子书的供需匹配度及解决产业链上各节点的利益矛盾冲突提供了新思路和有效参考。     

Best Practices for Integrating E-books in Academic Libraries: A Literature Review From 2005 to Present

Library Journal's 2011 Ebook Penetration and Use in U.S. Libraries Survey testifies to e-books’ increasing popularity in academic libraries. This review tracked literature published from 2005 that focused on academic librarians’ best practices for acquiring, cataloging, maintaining, and promoting e-books at their institutions. Some of these practices include implementing trial accesses, considering institutional requirements, providing an e-book presence in the library catalog, monitoring usage statistics, and utilizing the library Web site for promotional efforts.     

电子书阅读器的发展及其对图书馆的影响

文章分析了电子书阅读器的特点，探讨了电子书产业的最新发展及其对图书馆采访、编目、典藏和流通工作的影响，认为图书的全文数字化及电子书的管理与服务是数字图书馆建设新阶段的重要任务。     

寻求双赢:美英公共图书馆电子书借阅机制探索

电子书是基于现代出版技术的新型出版物,已成为公共图书馆借阅服务的重要组成部分。但出版商为保障自身利益对图书馆电子书借阅服务做出种种限制。为了弥合出版商和公共图书馆在电子书借阅方面的立场差距,双方都在寻找一个双赢的机制,本文通过考察国际图联、美国图书馆协会、英国政府的相关文献,总结了英美两国公共图书馆电子书借阅的共同点:公共图书馆向读者免费借阅电子书的权利应该得到保障;公共图书馆电子书的借阅模式包含三个组件,即一书一借,提供远程服务,限定借阅次数。图1。参考文献14。     

E-Preferred Approval Plan at a Large Academic Library: Assessment and Collection Development Implications

Academic libraries acquiring e-books through approval plans and other acquisition methods might question whether their collections are properly balanced between e-books and print books since patron needs vary across subject areas. This study examines seven years of monograph purchases at Texas A&M University Libraries (TAMU) through the approval plan vendor. Acquisition and use data are analyzed across subject areas. Study results inform how to balance print and e-collections to effectively support academic programs. TAMU purchased 78% of the monographs in print despite adopting an e-preferred approval plan, though most subject areas had higher e-book use compared to print.     

Comparing Digital Apples and Oranges: A Comparative Analysis of e-Books Across Multiple Platforms

This session reported the findings of a comparative analysis of how e-books are represented across multiple platforms. In this session, the presenters shared the results of a study that examined how a sample of academic e-books are represented across different platforms. Topics of analysis included: the inclusion of various metadata, the visual presentation of e-book content, and variations in search results. This presentation also focused on the similarities and differences between e-book representation and what impact these various representations might have on users of academic e-books.     

The use of electronic books in midwifery education: the student perspective

The objectives of this paper are: (i) to illustrate the use of e-books by health studies students at a college of higher education; (ii) to provide a demonstration of how e-books may be facilitated by library and information services staff working across the health and academic sectors; (iii) to comment upon the experiences of health studies students, in using e-books. A focus group of 10 student midwives was used to gain insight into how e-books may be used in an academic context for health professionals. The findings of the student midwives' focus group are reported and discussed. In this instance, the student midwives were encouraged to use e-books as part of a structured information skills programme. The paper concentrates on how the e-books were used within this context and addresses the potential benefits and disadvantages from a student perspective. The results provide evidence of a largely positive experience of using e-books as an electronic information resource. The focus group reveals many benefits and advantages in the facilitation and use of e-books, as well as addressing areas for development. It is concluded that e-books have a place in health library and information resources, but further development of e-books and e-book collections is required and subsequent investigation into their most effective use.     

Electronic Books: How Digital Devices and Supplementary New Technologies are Changing the Face of the Publishing Industry

This paper explores the topic of electronic books (e-books) and the effect that these digital devices and other new technologies has on the publishing industry. Contemporary society often claims that the publishing industry is dying and that the innovation of the e-book will eventually sentence the printed book to death. But this study will show that such is not the case. While it is true that the world is undergoing a digital revolution, publishers today have not been left in the dust, because these firms have embraced electronic publishing (e-publishing). The invention of e-books opens a world of opportunities and since the e-book market is still in its growth stage, there is much work left to be done. As with any new venture, the industry faces certain challenges, such as piracy, but with tools like encryption, digital asset management (DAM), digital rights management (DRM), and digital object identifiers (DOI), publishers are well on the way to a solution. While it is safe to say that the digital revolution has forever changed the face of publishing, e-books could actually revitalize the industry. No one knows what the future of e-publishing will hold, but developments affect publishing houses, authors, and consumers alike. And while the ultimate fate of the printed book is yet unknown, for now, it is here to stay.     

The California State University E-book Pilot Project: implications for cooperative collection development

The California State University conducted a year-long study of the use of a collection of NetLibrary e-books in its libraries. The purpose of the study was to introduce e-books, and develop a model for cooperative collection development of a shared electronic monograph collection. Title usage and subject usage statistics were examined, as well as a user survey. Challenges in analyzing e-book usage statistics are discussed, and positive user feedback is reported. Strategies are presented for cooperatively developing a shared collection of electronic monograph literature.     

高校图书馆电子书的发现与获取机制研究

高校图书馆OPAC系统对电子书的整合为编目工作带来了一系列挑战,包括有限的可用的记录、缺乏标准化、难以管理添加和删除电子书问题、供应商提供的低质量数据。图书馆使用资源发现系统面临的困难包括电子资源的不完全覆盖,依赖其他来源的元数据、访客用户访问存在障碍、依赖电子书供应商平台获取全文。对于所存在的问题,电子书数据库、资源发现系统开发商应进一步完善其系统功能,电子书元数据制作的标准化问题也应引起关注。