At the NAG Conference last week I ran a workshop on E-formats in public
libraries at which several interesting issues were raised. Among these
Ken Chad mentioned that as libraries we need to be clear about what we
expect from eBook services and what we are trying to do when we offer
these services. Once we have a clear idea of what it is we are trying to
do we could then go to publishers and ask them what it would take to get
them fully onboard with eBooks in public libraries.
I would certainly be interested in having this discussion as library and
information professionals and then taking it to some publishers to at
least get their thoughts. As they say in Newcastle "Shy bairns get
nowt!"
I was wondering if anyone would be interested in putting together a
proposal/document that at least spelled out what were trying to do. If
anyone is interested I would happy to be contacted on or off list and we
could put something together via emails or even in person.
Kind Regards
Luke Burton
Library and Information Officer
Information and Digital Team
Adult and Culture Services
City Library
Charles Avison Building
33 New Bridge Street West
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8AX
Tel: 0191 277 4105
email: [log in to unmask]
website: www.newcastle.gov.uk/libraries
-----Original Message-----
From: Dash Graham [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 13 September 2011 15:04
To: Burton, Luke
Subject: RE: ebooks again :RE: RNIB National library service survey of
ebook services in public libraries
I would also expect to see OverDrive migrate downloading titles to
kindles to the UK. However, all this will do, as someone pointed out
this morning, is to extend access OverDrive's ebook catalogue to another
eReader. What it won't do is solve the major problem of availability. It
will not increase the number of ebook titles public libraries may
purchase and any chance there will not happen until the publishers
co-operate and allow access to library lending suppliers to all their
ebook titles.
For the near future, Amazon has the advantage in that if they launch a
"Love Books" ebook subscription lending service they will a) make money
out of it and therefore would presumably keep many publishers happy with
a better return than library suppliers will be able to offer, and b)
already have a much wider selection for users - just compare Amazon's
ebook catalogue with that of OverDrive.
Graham
Graham Dash, MCLIP, Library Services Manager (Systems & Development)
Environment & Leisure Group, Leisure & Libraries
London Borough of Sutton, Central Library, St Nicholas Way, SUTTON,
Surrey SM1 1EA .
Tel.: 020 8770 4763, Mobile: 07515137830, Fax: 020 8770 4777
Borough web site: www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=907
Library Catalogue web site: www.sutton-libraries.gov.uk
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Burton, Luke
Sent: 13 September 2011 14:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ebooks again :RE: RNIB National library service survey of
ebook services in public libraries
And with the Kindle Library Lending taking off in the US we would be
expecting to see something similar in the UK. I would certainly be
looking to put pressure on OverDrive to offer us the same services.
Luke Burton
Library and Information Officer
Information and Digital Team
Adult and Culture Services
City Library
Charles Avison Building
33 New Bridge Street West
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8AX
Tel: 0191 277 4105
email: [log in to unmask]
website: www.newcastle.gov.uk/libraries
Opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Brisley
Sent: 13 September 2011 11:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ebooks again :RE: RNIB National library service survey of
ebook services in public libraries
In the US, Amazon are actively pursuing the loan of e books for Kindles
via libraries, in association with Overdrive but do not mention lending
the actual machines on their website.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_200549320_lib
rary?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200527380#library
Andy Brisley,
Library & Information Manager,
North Somerset Council,
Floor 2, West Wing,
Somerset House,
Oxford Street,
Weston super Mare,
Somerset,
BS23 1TG
Tel: 01934 426658
Mobile: 07584 607194
[log in to unmask]
North Somerset Council Website:
http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk
Library Catalogue:
http://www.librarieswest.org.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Vicki Goldie
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 11:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ebooks again :RE: RNIB National library service survey of
ebook services in public libraries
I suspect it will be more of a Kindle based loan system. If you have a
kindle subscribe and we will loan you x number of titles a month.
I do believe there will still be a market for real books but surely
posting them as they do DVDs in Love Film would be very cost adverse?
Vicki
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lynn Osborne
Sent: 13 September 2011 09:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ebooks again :RE: RNIB National library service survey of
ebook services in public libraries
What about Amazon collection boxes in libraries?!!
Lynn Osborne
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Dash Graham
Sent: 12 September 2011 19:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ebooks again :RE: RNIB National library service survey of
ebook
services in public libraries
I've regularly stated in various places for some time that all it needs
is
for Amazon to lauinch "Love Books" along the same lines as "Love films".
A rental of a couple of book titles a month for about a fiver will kill
off
a large part of public library ebook services.
All it will take is the commercial will and publisher permissions.
Unfortunately I'm not sure there's any real answer either particularly
given
the predominance of kindles.
Graham Dash
--------------------------
Sent using BlackBerry
----- Original Message -----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Mon Sep 12 17:43:17 2011
Subject: Re: ebooks again :RE: RNIB National library service survey of
ebook
services in public libraries
The Guardian reports rumours of Amazon book rental. Will we see the
return
of the old commercial circulating library that will compete with public
libraries?
The Guardian says: 'If I were a librarian, I confess, I'd be putting the
career-change plan into action just about now.'
A link to the blog and other resources is on Local Government Library
Technology ebook page http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/E-Books
Ken
Ken Chad Consulting Ltd
Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email: [log in to unmask]
www.kenchadconsulting.com
Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad
Open Library Systems Specifications: http://libtechrfp.wikispaces.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Chad [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 11 September 2011 12:57
To: [log in to unmask]; 'Wendy Taylor'
Subject: ebooks again :RE: RNIB National library service survey of ebook
services in public libraries
Thanks Wendy,
This is a useful report and I think and helpful contribution to the
ebook
debate. A link to the report has been added the 'e-book' page
(http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/E-Books ) of the Local Government
Library
Technology wiki (LGLibTech) which also has a range of other useful links
and
resources. For example it lists what ebook providers each UK library
authority uses. http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/Systems+Review
Usability
On the usability issue the ebook page also includes a link to the
comments
in June from Chris Batt (formally MLA) on his experience (as a sighted
and
pretty tech savvy person) of trying to use his library ebooks service.
He is
sympathetic to the issues but says: 'What I do want to suggest is that
those
adopting these services should do some proper usability testing and
ensure
that the entry route for the new user friendly and clear about what can
or
cannot be done and how the system will function in a wide variety of
conditions and configurations.'
Availability of ebook titles
At last week's NAG conference Luke Burton from Newcastle ably lead a
very
interesting session on ebooks. One of the key issues that came up from
librarians was the lack of availability to public libraries (through
their
ebook providers -e.g. Overdrive) of mainstream titles. It seems
publishers
lack motivation to provide ebooks on terms libraries currently find
acceptable. Unlike scholarly publishing (and audio ebooks I think) which
is
almost wholly dependent on the institutional (library) market, trade
publishing is end-user driven. John Thompson ('Merchants of culture')
says
libraries represent 'a relatively small and ....declining part of the
market'.
So with ebook sales booming to consumers one might wonder why trade
publishers would bother much with the library ebook market on anything
other
than on their terms. The ebook page of LGLibTech has some links and
resources relevant to this debate including (under the 'business models
heading) Eric Hellman's 'ungluing ebooks' initiative which is very
interesting...he says "ungluing ebooks" is what I'm calling the process
of
raising money to make creative-commons licensed ebook editions of the
books
that you love, so that everyone, everywhere can read them'.
What has come of the SCL/MLA/ Publishers association engagement on
ebooks
The last I noted (and the link is on the LGLibTech ebook page ) was the
bookseller piece in May.'UK publishers are locked in discussions with
librarians over ground rules for e-book lending, '
Ken
Ken Chad Consulting Ltd
Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email: [log in to unmask]
www.kenchadconsulting.com
Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad
Open Library Systems Specifications: http://libtechrfp.wikispaces.com
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of David Tanner
Sent: 08 September 2011 09:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: RNIB National library service survey of ebook services in
public libraries
Wendy
An interesting report. Some points.
1. eBooks and audiobook downloads seem to be mixed up in the reports.
Its
often not clear what actually is being discussed. Some users are
obviously
confusing the two as in "the eBook wouldn't play as it was in WMA
format".
WMA is a audio format.
2. All libraries who have to use Adobe Digital Editions are restricted
to
remote access only. You can't use this DRM management software on multi
use
public PCs. So interesting that so much of the report was slanted
towards
users actually in libraries and not at home. What service are they
accessing?
3. The complicated download procedures are the result of the insistence
by
the publishers of the use of DRM ebook files managed via Adobe Digital
Editions. (a terrible bit of software in my opinion).
thanks
--
David Tanner
Manager: Stock and Systems
Adult and Community Services (Information)
North Yorkshire County Council
Library HQ
21 Grammar School Lane
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL6 1DF
Tel: 01609 533814
Fax: 01609 780793
email: [log in to unmask]
At the moment I am reading
"Any Human Heart" by William Boyd.
>>> On 08/09/2011 at 8:19 am, in message
<[log in to unmask]>, Wendy
Taylor
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Ebooks offer a new way to access thousands of new books every year at
the
> same time as sighted readers. This summer, RNIB asked members of a
National
> Library Service focus group to help with a survey of ebook services
from
> public libraries. RNIB wanted to get a better idea of how many
libraries
> provide ebooks and how accessible those services are. The survey was
> undertaken during Make a Noise in Libraries Fortnight (6-19 June) and
shows
> that many libraries do not offer or plan to offer ebooks because the
cost
is
> too high.
>
> Results
> Where ebook services are available, many testers found it difficult to
log
> on via council websites using screen readers and magnification
software,
and
> navigating online catalogues and selecting titles to download also
proved
> tricky. However, friendly and helpful library staff made a big
difference
> although understanding of accessibility issues and the provision of
> accessible PCs in libraries was patchy.
>
> The full report can be accessed via Reading Sight
>
http://www.readingsight.org.uk/access_to_reading/finding_books/electroni
c_an
> d_digital/ebooks/ebook_services_in_public_libraries/
>
> Wendy Taylor
> Librarian, Bibliographic Services
> RNIB National Library Service
> Far Cromwell Road
> Bredbury
> Stockport
> SK6 2SG
> Tel: 0161 355 2093
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> Even though your eyesight might be fine, your eyes aren't necessarily
> healthy. An eye test could save your sight www.rnib.org.uk/happyeyes
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