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New ALA report explores challenges of equitable access to digital content. 'E-content: The Digital Dialogue.' American Library Association. 23 May 2012 A summary and download of this new ALA report is available on the Local Government Library Technology (LGLibTech) website 'ebook' page <http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/E-Books> http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/E-Books There is a lot of interesting material and food for thought in the report - I'm not sure if CILIP or SCL are working with ALA on any of this? There does seem to be a lot of common interest and concerns... From the press release: 'The American Library Association (ALA) report examining critical issues underlying equitable access to digital content through our nation's libraries. In the report, titled "E-content: The Digital Dialogue," authors explore an unprecedented and splintered landscape in which several major publishers refuse to sell e-books to libraries; proprietary platforms fragment our cultural record; and reader privacy is endangered. The report, published as a supplement to American Libraries magazine, explores various licensing models and the state of librarian-publisher relations. Additionally, the report provides an update on the ALA-wide effort to promote access to digital content (co-chaired by Robert Wolven, associate university librarian at Columbia University, and Sari Feldman, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library). The effort includes meeting with publishers, distributors and other important stakeholders; championing public advocacy, and writing position papers that advance practical business models without compromising library values. "Publishers, distributors and libraries must accept that new models of lending will not look like the old print model," writes Robert C. Maier, director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Carrie Russell, director of the ALA Program on Public Access to Information. "We are not just trying to solve a library lending problem, although that is the current emergency." Ken Ken Chad Consulting Ltd, Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email: <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask] <http://www.kenchadconsulting.com/> www.kenchadconsulting.com Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kenchad Local Government Library Technology wiki: http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/Home My presentations on slideshare: <http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad> http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad