Andy,
Thanks I'll have a look at it.
Nadine
_________________________________
Nadine Edwards
Senior Academic Services E-Librarian
Dreadnought Library
University of Greenwich
Old Royal Naval College
Park Row
London, SE10 9LS
Tel. 020 8331 9781
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://uoglibrary.blogspot.com
-----Original Message-----
From: E-books in academic libraries mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Ekins
Sent: 01 March 2011 14:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
Sorry that was meant to read 'this wasn't necessary' in the last line :)
A.
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Ekins [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 01 March 2011 14:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
Nadine,
This is going off track a bit, but...I downloaded a free ebook the other
day in PDF chapters. I used this software: http://www.pdfsam.org/ to
merge it together into one large PDF. I could then read it as 'one'
ebook on my reader (I also converted it to mobi format using Calibre,
but this was really neccesasary).
Thanks,
Andy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andy Ekins
Tel: 01227 782198
Email: [log in to unmask]
Twitter: aekins
Senior Library System Officer
Library Systems
Canterbury Christ Church University
North Holmes Road
Canterbury
Kent, CT1 1QU
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-----Original Message-----
From: Nadine Edwards [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 01 March 2011 14:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
Hilla,
We also have collections in Cambridge Books Online and Oxford
Scholarship Online. Both provide e-books in PDF format broken down
chapter by chapter. These can be downloaded to e-readers including the
Kindle because they don't have a DRM wrapper.
Calibre will not convert certain files e.g. Dawsonera due to DRM.
Nadine
_________________________________
Nadine Edwards
Senior Academic Services E-Librarian
Dreadnought Library
University of Greenwich
Old Royal Naval College
Park Row
London, SE10 9LS
Tel. 020 8331 9781
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://uoglibrary.blogspot.com
-----Original Message-----
From: E-books in academic libraries mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hilla Wait
Sent: 01 March 2011 13:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
EBL e-books are compatible with everything but Kindle. We've tested on I
pad, Sony e-reader, I phone, I pod touch and Android. Ours are set to 24
loans, so I think they can go anywhere as long as they self-destruct
afterwards. Using in Bluefire Reader, which I really like and which is
required for EBL with I pad, it recognises that the license has expired
after that point. I wonder whether Calibre would do the same?
I have a student who is managing to place up to a chapter from various
e-books in our collections onto his Kindle, but I haven't managed to
replicate this yet. He may be using the PDF chapter feature from Oxford
scholarship On-Line which seems very amenable to being moved anywhere.
Hilla
Dr. Hilla Wait (Philosophy & Theology Librarian, University of Oxford)
01865-276927 (Philosophy); 01865-270732 (Theology)
________________________________
From: E-books in academic libraries mailing list on behalf of
Jennie-Claire Perry
Sent: Tue 01/03/2011 13:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
I emailed Dawson to enquire about the compatibility of their e-Books
with various e-readers last November. The reply I received then said
that they were not yet compatible with e-book readers and that they
would never be compatible with Kindle as it is "specific to Amazon".
I have been interested in the Calibre software but wondered whether we
should be advising students to use software to convert file formats - I
don't even know if this is allowed under the license (as Andy says) and
would be grateful if anyone else knew. Obviously I would expect the more
technologically capable among them to be doing it anyway...
Jennie-Claire
Jennie-Claire Perry
Assistant Librarian - Bibliographic Services
University of the Arts London
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: E-books in academic libraries mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Ekins
Sent: 01 March 2011 1:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
Alison,
Yeah I use Calibre to convert non-Kindle ebooks to MOBI format (a
supported Kindle format), although the Kindle does support non-DRM PDFs.
I'm not sure from your email if you were referring to Dawson ebooks
specifically (I don't think you were??)....but from my experience the
procedure for converting the Dawson PDF to MOBI format won't work via
Calibre because the file is DRM protected. I just tried it and I got a
'This book is locked by DRM' message.
I think there is also the issue of license. Even if you could find a
piece of software to 'break' the DRM I'm sure this would contravene the
Dawson license agreement (and probably various electronic copyright
agreements). Anyone with more knowledge than me want to jump in here??
Thanks,
Andy
-----Original Message-----
From: Alison McNab [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 01 March 2011 12:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
Andy - intriguing!
A update on Kindle usability:
One of my colleagues who bought a Kindle on her day off last week came
in the next day having sussed file transfer & conversion, blog input
etc. She recommends free download software Calibre
http://calibre-ebook.com/ (which I played with at home last night -
looks good!) and the Chrome-to-Kindle plug-in (which I can't try as both
work and home IT support won't install it - for different reasons).
Alison
PS Haven't forgotten my intention to collate comments on this
thread.....
-----Original Message-----
From: E-books in academic libraries mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Ekins
Sent: 01 March 2011 12:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
All,
Just an update....
I have downloaded an ebook from DawsonEra and moved it to my Kindle. The
Kindle reports that it cannot handle these file types at this
time...which I'm taking to mean that it cannot handle the DRM on the
DawsonEra PDF. I have a collegeu with a Sony e-reader and I will ask him
to check if the same applies.
The DawsonEra PDF uses a system whereby it connects to Dawson to relay
usage info before you are permitted to view the ebook (I think this is
independent of the mechanism to expire the ebook after a number of
days). I am assuming this means that the ebook cannot be read 'offline'.
What is interesting and something to look out for...when I downloaded
the ebook I didn't just move it to my Kindle, but copied it. This
effectively gave me two copies of the same ebook. As an experiment I
copied the ebook again and emailed it to a colleague. My colleague was
able to open the ebook without any problems, which raises two points:
1. The DRM protection on these ebooks seems limited to time period and
not to the individual.
2. The ebook could potentially be distributed by an individual to many
other individuals to circumvent the loan process.
I'm wondering if the usage information that is relayed to Dawson when
the file is first opened is a logging system to ensure that this isn't
happening on a regular basis?
Thanks,
Andy
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Ekins [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 18 February 2011 14:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
Ian,
We are currently in the process of a trial of Dawson ebooks.
From their FAQ:
---------------
Can an ebook be downloaded for offline reading?
Yes, although reading online is more common, it is also possible to
download the ebook to a laptop or memory stick. This is another special
feature of dawsonera and not common in any similar product. Of course,
after download, the student can't keep the ebook forever. Access will be
denied after a few days.
---------------
The download is in PDF format and you have to specify a period of time
(between 1 - 7 days) that you want the ebook for before the PDF expires.
So, I guess as long as the ereader supports the PDF format and supports
the expiry mechanism then Dawson ebooks should be able to be read via
that ereader (although you would need to download to PC first and then
transfer to the device).
*Caveat* We haven't tested this as yet so I could be completely wrong :)
HTH,
Andy
-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Haydock [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 18 February 2011 09:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
On this theme, I hear that MyiLibrary are planning to add the capacity
to download ebooks to devices later this year on the time-expiry model
used by other suppliers for PC downloads. I understand that Netlibrary
does this already. Does anybody about the compatibility of other
suppliers such as Dawsons or Ebrary with ebook devices?
Ian
Ian Haydock
Library Systems Manager
Keele University
(+44 1782 7)33241
________________________________
From: E-books in academic libraries mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hopwood, Michael
Sent: 18 February 2011 09:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Academic libraries and e-book readers
Alison et al,
I would like to second that and add - how much is DRM an issue here, and
are other licensed materials being added to these devices e.g. for core
course readings?
I'm happy to help out with this mini survey any way I can.
Best wishes,
Michael
Michael Hopwood
Information Resources - Team Leader, Digital Course Packs
Information Services & Systems
King's College London
From: E-books in academic libraries mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Alison McNab
Sent: 17 February 2011 17:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Academic libraries and e-book readers
I am aware that a number of academic libraries have purchased e-book
readers to explore their potential - in some cases selecting several
different products to compare and contrast.
I am curious as to the practicalities of how readers are used and
personalised by different individuals, and different business models for
acquiring and paying for content. For example, I am ware that for
individuals to purchase e-books in iBooks or Kindle, access to a credit
card has to be enabled. I am sure that few University Purchasing
Offices would agree to such an open-ended commitment so libraries
running e-book reader projects must have found some work-around.
In my own institution, we are receiving an increasing number of
enquiries from academic staff with an interest and project ideas in this
area and it would be helpful to discover what is happening elsewhere. I
have a particular interest in the potential of e-book readers to support
students with disabilities. While JISC TechDis and the RNIB provide
much useful information, I am keen to hear from anyone who has explored
the use of e-readers with dyslexics.
I am happy to receive responses offline, and collate them should there
be interest.
Alison
--
Alison McNab
Academic Team Manager (Resources and Services)
Kimberlin Library
De Montfort University
The Gateway
Leicester
LE1 9BH
Tel: (+44) 0116 257 7048
Fax: (+44) 0116 257 7145
Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
University of Greenwich, a charity and company limited by guarantee,
registered in England (reg. no. 986729). Registered office:
Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS.
University of Greenwich, a charity and company limited by guarantee,
registered in England (reg. no. 986729). Registered office:
Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS.
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