Digital Books

Committee on the LibraryDecember 2010

Current situation for libraries

• Device-based books are problematic, due to licenses and digital rights management (DRM)

• Books sold as packages, as subscriptions, or as individual books

• Contracts, vendor features, and DRM limitations are very unique and very non-standard

• Fondren is emphasizing content that is not tied to a specific device, and is using non-proprietary formats

• Fondren seeks to expand purchase of individual books and struggles with packages

• Fondren is trying to work with vendors who allow readers the greatest use of content

Questions

1. Digital Books versus Print Books

2. “Patron initiated acquisitions” aka Order On Demand

Paper vs. E-book?

• E-only acceptable for books?

• All or only for specific types of material?

• What criteria? For example:• Delay following print availability• Nature of content/use• Features (simultaneous use, print/export

restrictions, sign on requirements, etc.)

Order on Demand (OOD)

• Can be digital books or print books

• Records are loaded into catalog

• Selecting print item issues order• (Paper received in 8-10 weeks)

• Selecting/entering e-book equals

buying e-book

Order on Demand (OOD)

• Ensures all purchased material has

immediate audience • Long term/future scholars?

• All or specific types of material?

• What criteria?

Readings

• Librarians Put Their Trust in Patrons (November 7, 2010 - http://chronicle.com/article/Librarians-Put-Their-Trust-in/12529/)

• Reader Choice, Not Vendor Influence, Reshapes Library Collections (November 7, 2010 - http://chronicle.com/article/Reader-Choice-Not-Vendor/125275/)

• 4 Very Different Futures Are Imagined for Research Libraries (October 19, 2010 - http://chronicle.com/article/4-Very-Different-Futures-Are/125011/)

Committee on the Library

December 2010