2. About me
Currently Coordinator of
Digital Services for the
Ottawa Public library
First OPL project was the
introduction of digital audio
books (2006) – added eBooks
in 2008.
Participated eBook working
group looking at issues
pertaining to eBooks and
Canadian libraries.
4. Tonight’s Topics
What is the role of libraries in providing access to digital
media?
Ebooks are growing in popularity and libraries are being
inundated with requests for assistance in selecting and using
devices as well as providing access to content.
How can libraries become better advocates for our users no
matter how they chose to consume content?
5. But first……..A Little History
eBooks and eReaders have been around a long time
1970s Project Guttenberg begins digitizing books
2000 Overdrive begins offering downloadable titles
2002 NetLibrary purchased by OCLC
1998 First eReaders appeared on the market
2007 the debut of the Kindle
6. What is an eBook?
The digital media equivalent of a printed book.
Accessed via computer or an eReader
At least 15 different file formats
Kindle, text, epub, html, pdf, mobi, prc, etc.
Epub
Open format – not proprietary
Default standard but not everyone (Kindle) uses it
7. Benefits of e-books
Searchable
Defy time
Defy Space
Portable
Can’t be lost, stolen, misshelved, or mutilated
8. The Downside
Digital Rights Management (DRM)
Title availability
Sharing limitations
Some users uncomfortable with technology
9. What is an eBook Reader?
A reading device with an electronic paper display.
Readers:
Have access to books, magazines, newspapers, blogs
Can take notes, highlight and bookmark text
An audio player (mp3s, audio books)
A web browser (some devices)
15. Or do we have an advocacy and educational role
as well
Knowledge is power
16. Libraries are great equalizers – whether in a physical or
digital space.
Must continue to play a central role in providing open
and free access to information and ideas.
Need to go beyond just providing.
Libraries are trusted to provide quality materials
…does that translate into other expectations about the
access we provide?
17. Shooting ourselves in the foot
Locking users into a specific platform is the equivalent of
curbing access.
20. Ebooks are growing in popularity
and libraries are being inundated
with requests for assistance in
selecting and using devices as well
as providing access to content.
21. Downloading from a vendor can be
done in a few steps whereas
downloading from the library is a much
more complicated process.
22. At OPL, we use over 20 slides to present how to download
digital media.
24. Association of American Publishers - e-book net sales
reached nearly $70 million in January 2011, an increase of
115 percent from the previous year.
Ottawa Public Library saw a 213% increase from 2009 to
2010 and is expecting another large increase for 2011.
Boxing Day 2010 crashed our Overdrive site.
25. E-book sales can be expected to continue growing as readers
show increased loyalty to and satisfaction with the digital
format.
Nearly 50% of print book consumers who have also acquired
an e-book in the past 18 months would wait up to three
months for the e-version of a book from a favorite author,
rather than immediately read it in print. A year ago, only
38% said they would wait this long.
- Consumer Attitudes Toward E-Book Reading survey (Nov 2011)
26. Consumer Attitudes Toward E-Book
Reading survey
75% of respondents reported they are satisfied with their e-
reading device
70% primarily purchase from Amazon
One to watch: libraries, which are on the upswing as a
preferred source for e-book acquisition
27. Demand is growing
Libraries are responding to the increased demand from their
users but at what cost?
Is the “they ask – we supply” model best long-term
Do libraries have a say in the lending models? Should we?
28. How can libraries become
better advocates for our
users no matter how they
chose to consume content?
29. Competition
Libraries may not be competing for revenue however we do
compete for awareness of what we offer as well as our skills
in navigating the electronic world, advocating on privacy
issues, preservation and digitization of content, and so much
more.
30. Self-Advocacy
Libraries need to get better at promoting our skills sets.
If you ask someone what libraries are about – chances
are they will miss many of our key functions.
We continue to offer great resources but until we clearly
show it’s value to the user, the results are likely not
going to be what we want/need.
31. We need to play a larger role in how the digital landscape is
being shaped
DRM
Content Ownership
Distribution platforms
32. Digital Rights Management
Technologies attempt to control what you can and can't
do with the media and hardware you've purchased.
Bought an ebook from Amazon but can't read it on your ebook
reader of choice? That's DRM.
Bought a DVD or Blu-Ray but can't copy the video onto your
portable media player? That's DRM.
Bought a video-game but can't play it today because the
manufacturer's "authentication servers" are off-line? That's
DRM.
Bought a smart-phone but can't use the applications or the
service provider you want on it? That's DRM.
-Electronic Frontier Foundation
33. Nothing I love better than explaining to a user why they
can’t do expected things with library ebooks because of
DRM.
DRM is supposed to protect copyright holders but does it?
34. Making the legal illegal
C-11 will change the digital landscape yet again
DRM/TPM provisions are currently in many licenses but
not yet in the Canadian Copyright act although they are
in the proposed C-11.
What will the passage of Bill C-11 mean for libraries
and their users?
35. September 2011 – Overdrive announces that public libraries
and schools in the U.S. can now lend eBooks for the
Amazon® Kindle.
Very controversial in US libraries
Pushes you to Amazon
Amazon with access to Library records for solicitation
Currently in negotiations for Canada.
Is this good or bad?
36. Kindle eBook lending service
ONLY Available to US customer who own a Kindle Device AND
Subscribe to the Amazon Prime Service
None of the Six Largest U.S. Publishers are Participating
Books CANNOT Be Read on Kindle Reading Apps (Android,
iOS, PC, Mac, etc.)
One Book Can be Borrowed at a Time, and There are No Due
Dates
You Can Borrow a New Book as Frequently as Once a Month
Adds a new variable as libraries rethink their roles,
collection building, eBook services for libraries, etc…
37. Amazon is not the devil
Corporations will always
do what is best for the
bottom line.
They will continue to push
the boundaries
Technology is changing
how define a book – e.g.
HarperCollins
38. Crying Wolf
Similar things have been found in electronic databases and
digital Audio books for years but have received little to no
outcry. What is it about eBooks that makes them different?
We purchases services only to turn around and complain
how they work. If you don’t like it – don’t buy it….
Easier said then done
39.
40. The Future
Pew Research Center plans to study how the role of public
libraries is changing in a digital age and how user needs and
expectations are shifting.
Contracts are changing – we need to read them very
carefully to make we understand and agree with the
terms….especially when re-signing.
Standards – Standards - Standards
Who is negotiating for us?
Partnerships
