Hi there
Just in case you had missed this. CILIP want to know what Welsh
librarians think about issues around ebooks. Please take some time to
make your thoughts known.
<http://lyrisweb.cilip.org.uk/t/167950/24494/12062/0/> Ebooks and
Libraries, tell us what you think!
http://communities.cilip.org.uk/blogs/informationadvice/archive/2012/08/
09/ebooks-and-libraries-tell-us-what-we-need-to-know.aspx
Ebooks are popular! Amazon has reported that, for every 100 hardback
and paperback books it sells on its UK site, 114 ebooks are downloaded
to Kindles in what the Guardian described as a 'reading renaissance'.
Libraries are seeing an ever increasing demand for ebooks too and are
striving hard to meet this demand. The latest SCONUL statistics show
that, taken together, UK university libraries offer access to 21,189,696
ebooks, an increase of over 5.5 million in just one year. Desk research
by CILIP found that, as of July 2012, 141 public library authorities in
the UK are lending ebooks, and school librarians are reporting an
increase in uptake as well. So the future for ebooks and libraries is
bright... or is it?
Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, is expected to announce shortly a
cross-industry task force of authors, publishers and librarians to
explore the issue of ebook lending in public libraries. Ahead of the
launch of this task force - of which CILIP has asked to be a member - we
would like your help, regardless of which sector your work in. I should
also add, regardless of which UK nation you are part of - any
negotiations with publishers and others is likely to impact on the whole
UK and it is to be hoped the Task Force will encompass this UK approach
in its membership.
CILIP needs to have a position on, as well as an understanding of, the
most pressing issues raised by ebook acquisition and lending in public
libraries. We have compiled a short briefing that identifies four that
are likely to be discussed by the Task Force and we would value your
comments.
If you would like to comment on any of these issues, please use this
blog, or email [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Thanking you
Karen Gibbins
Principal Librarian, Information and Learning
Swansea Libraries
Civic Centre
Swansea
SA1 3SN
01792 636329
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