Mirela Roncevic

Many claim that the presence and importance of e-books in the library world have reached a saturation point, but the truth is that experimentation with new models, as well as refinement of existing ones, continues apace. Delving into the latest developments among the varied players in the e-book marketplace, including publishers, libraries, and vendors, the latest volume in the best-selling No Shelf Required series is written from a strong international perspective. Such cutting-edge contributors as Michael Blackwell, Mary Minow, Neil Butcher, and Tonya McQuade discuss a range of groundbreaking initiatives that tap into the potential of digital content to be omnipresent. Positive, uplifting, instructive, and goal-oriented, this volume’s coverage includesthe DPLA national e-book platform;ReadersFirst, a movement to improve e-book access from libraries;the AudiobookSYNC project, a free summer audiobook program for teens;using e-books to teach poetry and publishing processes;the Multnomah County Library Library Writers project;the Internet Archive and e-books; ande-books and sustainable literacy in Africa.Public libraries looking into expanding their programming; academic libraries interested in library publishing, digital scholarship, and scholarly communication; and technical services staff will all find creative new ideas inside for promoting literacy and spreading knowledge.

How can we make e-books more readily available to users, communities, and society at large? In this issue of Library Technology Reports, Mirela Roncevic explores this question by taking a look at a unique e-book business model that turns geographic spaces into open virtual libraries to enable reading, promote literacy, and expose more books to more people.

E-book vendors continue to experiment: adjustments to business models, consolidation of content, and mergers with competitors mean constant change. What’s good for innovation can equal confusion when it comes to choosing an e-book platform for your library. Making a sound purchasing decision requires research and close consideration of trade-offs, and Roncevic’s new issue of Library Technology Reports will get you started. Based on surveys of e-book vendors with an established presence in academic, public, and/or K–12 library markets, this report includesBackground and business model descriptions for 51 leading e-book vendorsFour tables comparing content, technical specifications, functionality, and business models An at-a-glance overview of platforms, including vendor website URLsBulleted checklists of factors to consider, and questions to ask vendorsAn examination of the blurring channels of publisher, aggregator, and distributor platforms, with advice to help you avoid content overlap