2. eBooks & Richland County Public Library
What’s happening in the world of eBooks?
What are we seeing at RCPL?
What might be next?
Photo: graur codrin
14. { in brief }
Between January 2010 and January 2011…
we checked out almost 8,700 ebooks….
from an eBook collection that had roughly 2600
items.
3.09 x per eBook
20. Thank you.
Tony Tallent
Director of Literacy and Learning
Richland County Public Library
Image: Master isolated images
Hinweis der Redaktion
What are some trends and items making news with eBooks? How we’ve supported usage and some key statistical dataWhat are we doing to support eBook readers and being ready as the eBook wave continues to roll?
It’s not only the inside world of libraries that is talking about ebooks and libraries.Interest in eBooks has skyrocketed in the past several months. Let’s take a look at some very recent examples.
Some of the main ideas: ebook demand is up; many libraries budgets are down. How do we balance the demand with budget constraints? Hennepin County Public Library spent $350,000 on ebooks last year. They plan on spending this same amount in the coming year.
Books still fit in. They fit in in different ways…and will continue to. It’s our work to deliver the information and services (and, that means books, too!) to customers how they need it, want it.
In this EW feature, ereaders were ranked. Most interesting to us is that one of the key items for “making the cut” (or not)included it the ereader allowed owners to download ebooks from their libraries. Note, the Kindle isn’t compatible. These are dedicated readers only (tablets, iPad not included)
One survey cited that ebook readers start have begun reading MORE. 53% more since getting an e-reader (Harrison interactive poll)
We are interested in delivering services that meet all our community…here’s some what we’ve seen over the past year, especially related to ebooks.
We began offering downloadableebooks in earnest (through Overdrive) in January 2010. Downloads we did offer before: NetLibrary (read it on your computer screen—limited selection and more academic in nature), audio books, music.
46 ebook check-outs at the end of the first month. Plus 93 new users! (including those that went in and put eBooks on hold)
…and from creating 93 new users in the month of January 2010 to 529 new users in January 2011.
The story doesn’t end here.As the snippet says: The ebook revolution is not coming. It is already here.
Including input from our customers.Example: we have added ebook format for suggestions for purchase.
Focusing our promotions and making access through our website easier.
Getting our staff ready to bring eBooks to our customers.Partnering with our community, including businesses in learning. Let them touch the items and the ideas. It will change lives.Note: to date, an estimated 85%- 90 % of all RCPL staff had had training or eBook downloading to assist customers.
Richland County Public Library is a part of the interest and action working to make e-delivery better for the public.Note: 2 tasks forces of ALA, ULC work group.
