The Good Library Blog

A couple of quick points.

1) Although everyone can access the website, only card holders can access ebooks. The ebook sections tend to be protected so that not everyone can download them as they wish.

2) Although the issue of free distribution is possible, it depends on breaking the DRM....something that can affect retailers as well as libraries. So even retailers could lead to the spread of 'free editions'.

I must add as well that these discussions have been going on in the profession for some time. There are countless websites, library journals etc where the issue of ebooks is discussed and whether we should go with them or not. It is not a settled issue and there has been some debate.

I think the interesting thing is that librarians are quite conservative (small 'c'). Much discussion takes place before a decision is made. And, whilst outsiders may instinctively say "yes we definitely should", or "no we definitely shouldn't", librarians tend to wrestle between the two for some time before taking a decision. Personally, after much though, I think it is time we definitely should.

Let's address these concerns then. 'Fear of spreading free editions'. I like your use of the word 'if' here, and am glad to see that you acknowledge that it's only a possibility. If the publishers are that concerned it is of course up to them to ensure the safety of their books in that regard. Books are of course an entirely different case to those of records and are consumed in a different way.

PLR. This can be resolved.

Restrictions on use. The use of ebooks will be limited to those people who have a library card in a particular borough or area. This is particularly the case for the disabled or those who find it difficult to get to their library. Ebooks are a great way for them to continue to read; it would be a shame if this was denied to them by people who do not wish libraries to stock ebooks.

The cost of ebooks, as I have pointed out in the previous discussion is extraordinarily low, particularly given that the same book can be read simultaneously. Your figure of £70 is incorrect; mine of under £3 is accurate. The purchase of ebooks actually means that more stock can be purchased, not less, and it's a shame that you want to see bookstock diminished in this way.

Standardisation. From the user perspective this is irrelevant, though I agree standardisation is always a good idea. I'd love books to all be the same size.

Charging for ebooks. That's an interesting idea. I'm happy to let the professionals work through that one in conjunction with their users.

Management time. I think discussions on how best to serve user groups and to provide resources in the best way to the widest number of people is a very good use of their time.

eReaders. As I have pointed out, and which you appear to have either ignored or not understood, physical eReaders are not necessary. eBooks can be read on pcs, laptops and netbooks.

The market. As always, books can be made available in the best way; this may be as an ebook or as a physical item. Again, I'm happy for the professionals to make those decisions, rather than consultants.

Future of reference works. This is a concern of course, but their future is rather more threatened by free access on the web rather than via ebooks.

'And presumably several others'. I'm pleased to see that you couldn't think of any.

You make the point about access to materials in remote areas. eBooks are a good way to allow the housebound to access titles that they otherwise would not have access to it, and I think it's something of a shame that you want to limit this availablity to vulnerable groups.

As I have pointed out already, the cost of titles is on average very affordable, and as someone who pays funds in Essex I am delighted to see them investing in ebooks.

With regards bodies and answers. I can only suggest that you ask your public library to run a literature search, as I can assure you that a lot of work has been done in this area.

I agree with you entirely that ebooks need to be placed firmly within the context of the role of the library. eBooks are a splendid way of providing access to titles 24 hours a day to those who want them, outside of normal library hours and are a particular boon to those, as I say, who are unable to get to a library. It would be a shame if this group were unable to benefit from the technological developments.

The very same day as this discussion was taking place, a virtual conference, E-books: libraries at the tipping point, took place in the states: http://ebook-summit.com/
Have a look. It might shed some light on some of the issues that puzzle you.

Thanks Tom. Good to hear from you.

As someone who has been working with libraries on their use of e-books for the last dozen years - and doing so in order to identify and resolve management issues such as those highlighted in the original post - I can only commend Phil's accurate and reasoned response to perkins.

If ebooks borrowed from public libraries have to be read on pc's or laptops they are not portable. What is the advantage of them over a book?

They don't HAVE to be read on a PC or Laptop, they can be downloaded on to a reader. But in fact, many people read eBooks on their computers or even mobile phones. When Project Gutenberg first started, reader devices were not yet developed yet it was still very popular for people to read things on their computer.

I think more reference eBooks are useful for just reading on a PC, e.g. a travel guide or something.

As the price of reader devices comes down though, the popularity of eBooks will soar. If libraries do not become involved in eBooks right now, they run the risk of becoming even more antiquated and not suiting the needs of their users. Have you read the OverDrive report about public library OverDrive use in the UK?
http://www.overdrive.com/files/uklibrariesoverdrivecasestudy.pdf
Here it is. It's quite interesting. One of the librarians says 'We need to stay current and relevant to a younger age group who ultimately will be the ones paying the bill for the service, and it has to be the service they want.’ Very true. eBooks aren't about replacing complete collections in libraries, but complementing the services libraries already provide to give the user what they want.

They can be read on PCs, laptops, mobile phones, ereaders, tablets, Macs etc.

A librarian posting on Lis Pub Libs this morning tells us that she will not subscribe the to Grove Dictionary of Music online edition any more because of lack of use. So the people of her town will no longer have access to it. Is this likely to happen to other books bought in e-editions?

If it's available 'online' then it's not an ebook is it? Secondly, if it's not being used, people don't want it, so it makes sense to use the money to obtain access to resources that they DO want. Or are you proposing that the library simply buys what it feels like, irrespective of the wishes of the local community?

Actually I do think that members of the public anywhere should have access to a copy of the Grove Dictionary of Music in their public library. I do.

OK, so what you're arguing for is that a library should maintain a bookstock and reference materials based on your personal preference and opinions. That's fine, and I understand that. However, my point remains - if the public don't want it because they don't use it, that money could be better spent elsewhere, providing resources that the public DO want. Which is kind of what you appear to argue for most of the time isn't it?

My employer currently has a printed copy of the New Grove dictionary of music, as well as online access (which is better for finding the information one requires). The online version gets very little use, and for very short periods of time, indicating it is being used for basic look-up information readily found elsewhere, and not for access to the many wonderful monographs it contains.

I suspect this encapsulates a partially-hidden problem with traditional printed reference stocks: ascertaining accurately what is actually being used. Online access leaves under-performing stock nowhere to hide, and enable librarians to make better-informed decisions on stock. Although as a classically-trained musician myself, if these means cancelling a subscription to the online version, so be it, if that is the best use of our council Tax-payers money.