We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from Part 2 - Planning and developing an e-book collection
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 June 2018
Introduction
The common perception of the modern public library service in the UK tends to involve cuts to book funds, long waiting lists for the latest titles and reductions in opening hours. Consequently, the view of some critics that whatever resources remain available to public library managers should be devoted to providing the best ‘traditional’ service possible, rather than fragmenting effort and funds in exploring ways of diversifying service provision, is one that strikes a chord with many members of the public.
Yet, against this background, public library provision of e-books has begun to gather pace. A comparatively early survey commissioned by Resource (Dearnley et al., 2002) found that only one public library in the UK (Blackburn with Darwen) was actively providing an e-book service. Five years later, there were still only a couple more, but, by 2010, the number had risen to around 20, with more in the pipeline. Meanwhile, in the USA growth followed a similar pattern, beginning with the takeup of NetLibrary by a small number of public libraries in 1998 to a position in 2010 where OverDrive alone had over 9000 services as customers.
So, at a time when most libraries in the sector struggle to balance budgetary constraints with demands to help fulfil a multiplicity of agendas, how is it possible to justify branching out into such a service, where levels of take-up are uncertain, when the technology is still unstable, and which threatens to dilute already diminished funds even further? This chapter aims to make a sound case for the introduction of e-books into the public library environment, as well as examining some of the practical issues involved in such a development.
The strategic case for e-books
Is the current push for e-books simply yet another example of public library managers ignoring what the public want and jumping on the latest bandwagon, driven by a fear of being seen to be behind the times?
If so, it would clearly be difficult to defend such a position. However, in the light of their successful engagement with electronic reference material, it is perhaps surprising that more UK public libraries have not adopted e-books sooner.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
