eBook Issues and Challenges Debrief

Chad Mairn, Chief Technology Officer, Novare Lib Services

• ebooks are not new but the devices have recently swelled in popularity
  
• libraries are about community, not books
• 3rd party ebook vendors are expensive: lots of *stuff* involved...licensing, drm etc...worrisome that these vendors might move to direct to peeps model (like netflicks)
• Douglas County Library has a home-grown system...shows big players that libs *can* do this on their own
• over 50% of peeps purchase books due to being introduced to authors at the library
• big training piece: um, yeah! Role of library staff to train users how to get the ebooks on their devices
• libs need to understand econtent privacy issues, and how to explain to users
• will tweet link to document about privacy...check it out
• new advances: colour e-ink
• libraries need to advocate for open access
• most authors not motivated by money (esp text book authors)

Ken Roberts (Chief Lib: Hamilton PL)

• desire for a discovery layer, to integrate material from a variety of sources in to the lib's opac: people just want the info
• we don't organize hard copy material by publisher, so why should we organize e-stuff by publisher?! (don't have all the Simon and Schuster books together on the shelf!)
• libs need to understand publishers needs (why they provide certain models)...libs need to present our evidence much better, and so do the vendors
• check out mediasurfer...allows peeps to check out ipads and other devices (they are wiped / cleaned when returned)...nifty
• need to think about what the ebook will become: graphic novels / apps / and more...need to plan for that
• information is beautiful WOW! super cool! visual interpretations of data / info...appeals to visual learners (show it to G!)...and share with others (link on FB)...very nifty

Buffy Hamilton, Creekview High School

• The Unquiet Librarian
• k-12 perspective
• (fabulous southern accent!)
• experience with school kids: ereaders removed stumbling block of "wow that book is HUGE I could never read that!"
• school administrators want to see data-driven results ...evidence-based is pervasive!
• easy management of content is needed
• there is no "one size fits all" solution

Matt Barnes, VP Marketing at eBrary

• "questions I hear a lot"
• ebooks at the intersection of people, business and tech
• people: the human factor...how ebooks are used
  
• money: the business factor...how ebooks are being bought/solc
  
• progress: the tech factor