E-books: a snapshot from the UK

1. E-books: a snapshot from the UK Dr Hazel Woodward University Librarian, Cranfield University, Chair, JISC E-Books Working Group Göteborg University, Sweden, 12th December 2002

3. Cranfield University • small, niche, postgraduate University • engineering, technology, defence, biosciences, business & management • four libraries on three campus (two over 100 kilometres apart) • leading edge, international research • demanding client base

4. Provision of E-books • began mid 2001 with NetLibrary • some 600 titles selected across a range of subject areas • concerns: • high cost of e-book provision • no simultaneous use (the usage model is not sustainable in the longer term) • lack of appropriate UK content • how to market such a small ‘collection’ • extending access…………..

14. What e-book content do we want to acquire? • general reference materials • good range available via national consortia deals • specialist reference works • some already available via national deals • individual negotiation with publishers • scholarly monographs • background reading materials • available from individual publishers e.g. Taylor & Francis, Wiley, McGraw Hill, Elsevier • frequently ‘bundled’ by the publisher into subject clusters • available via aggregators e.g. NetLibrary; Books 24x7

15. E-book content … continued • high demand text books, and short loan/reserve collection materials • the most difficult area !! • very little success to date • activity at national level

16. How do we move forward? well………. in the UK a lot is happening at a national level

17. Collecting Activities • World’s largest and most diverse e-collection for education • Collection Strategy and Content Policies • Work with content producers • International Work (ICOLC) • Agenda for the year ahead including new negotiations structure

18. 8 collecting areas Books Discovery Tools Geospatial Resources Images Journals Learning Materials Moving Pictures and Sound Primary Research Data Collection Strategy

19. E-Books Working Group • Mission: to provide leadership in establishing a strategy for the develop of electronic books for the benefit of the academic community • Monitor and influence e-book industry • Acquire content for HE and FE sectors • Achieve a sustainable economic model • Promote content exploitation • Understand impact on institutions, libraries and users • Advise on content creation

20. JISC content acquisition programme • Current activity http://www.jisc.ac.uk/dner/collections/licensing.html • Early English Books Online (EEBO) • Wiley reference works • Portfolio of major general referenceproducts

21. Oxford Reference Online/xreferplus

22. Britannica Online

23. Current Working Group initiatives extensive community consultation e-book community established commissioning research into e-books ongoing discussions with publishers and aggregators joint marketing plans with publishers and suppliers for existing deals

24. E-book research studies • Market mapping exercise – well underway • Promotion of ‘free’ e-books – started Dec 2002 • Strategy for e-textbooks – will start Jan 2003 • A vision for the development of e-textbooks - 2003 • Marketing and promotion of e-books – 2003 • Research budget of over £200,000

25. Market mapping exercise • Phase 1 – focus groups in key subjects and FE specific • Core questions: • Key challenges in managing print collection? • Does going electronic provide the answer? • Where would you prioritise your ebook acquisition? • What are your preferred economic models? • For each discipline: • Agree on most useful type of books (reference, monograph, textbook) • Seek consensus on essential titles for electronic collection

26. Market mapping: challenges with print • access • collection management and administration • theft and vandalism • space • quality of stock • out of print material

27. Market mapping: opportunities for e-books • can solve many problems but… • increased access is critical • on campus and off • multi-user • collection management tools essential • marketing is crucial

28. Market mapping: problems of e-books • knowing what’s available • poor quality of what’s on offer • effective means of evaluating resource • some concerns about formats and IT infrastructure • access and costs

29. Market mapping: acquisition priorities • textbooks and high-demand material • some interest in reference works • subject areas where material dates e.g. law, computing, business & management • rely on JISC for endorsement

30. Market mapping: economic models • some uncertainty, but… • who pays? • concern of shifting costs to user • differences in how budgets are allocated and spent • many like subject bundling • JIT option also popular in some cases

31. Research project: a strategy for e-textbooks (Jan 2003-) • aim: national collections strategy for e-textbooks • market analysis • changing academic sector • institutional strategies • institutional cost structures • motivations/behaviours of core users • appropriate pricing • industry structure and supply chain

32. Research project: a vision for e-textbooks (2003-) • aim: longer term vision for e-textbooks • both promise and reality • use of textbooks in teaching and learning • new forms of material, production and authoring

33. Research project: marketing of e-books (2003-) • aim: to maximise awareness and uptake of e-books in HE and FE • current practice to date • key problems e.g. supply chain info • roles for key stakeholders: • publishers • booksellers and other intermediaries • librarians • academics

34. Thank you for your attention Any questions?