Empowering readers in a digital world

Libraries to go

Tara Wong

November 14th

OALT

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.

About you

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?

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

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

Benefits of e-books Searchable

Defy time

Defy Space

Portable

Can’t be lost, stolen, misshelved, or mutilated

The Downside Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Title availability

Sharing limitations

Some users uncomfortable with technology

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)

So Many Devices……So little time

Benefits of eReaders Convenience Weight Cost of e-book titles Privacy Additional features:

Built-in dictionary Text-to-Speech engines

eReader vs Tablet

The Downside Book formats Digital Rights Management Slow e-ink display Page navigation Consumer privacy and e-book permanence

What is the role of libraries in providing access to digital

media?

Are we merely a point of access to content?

Or do we have an advocacy and educational role as well

Knowledge is power

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?

Shooting ourselves in the foot

Locking users into a specific platform is the equivalent of curbing access.

Challenges for LibrariesCollection Development Format

Availability

Loan structures

Language

Access

Challenges for LibrariesTechnology Multiple platforms

Devices

Training Staff Users

Troubleshooting

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.

Downloading from a vendor can be done in a few steps whereas downloading from the library is a much more complicated process.

At OPL, we use over 20 slides to present how to download digital media.

In the end

Easy beats free

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.

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)

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

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?

How can libraries become better advocates for our

users no matter how they chose to consume content?

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.

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.

We need to play a larger role in how the digital landscape is being shaped DRM Content Ownership Distribution platforms

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

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?

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?

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?

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…

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

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

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

Tara.wong@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca