This interactive session will take a look back at the past 12 years of the e-book industry: where it started, what’s happened since then, and what we can look forward to in the future. Earlier in 2012, ebrary announced a new approach to strategic e-book acquisition involving three steps: Transition, Diversify, and Streamline. Prior to this, several converging factors in the industry made strategic e-book acquisition possible: the number of books published electronically is at an all-time high; there are now a number of different acquisition models, and solid usage data is available since e-books have been on the market for more than a decade. Moreover technology in the consumer market for e-resources has exploded; we’ll examine those milestones and how they impacted not only ebrary but the e-book industry as a whole and how they got us where we are today.
ebrary will present alongside YBP, San Jose State University, and University of Notre Dame while deep-diving into the second strategic step, Diversification, which will provide key insight for libraries by looking at usage statistics specifically from the schools represented and using them to expand other acquisition models in both higher and lower use subject areas. The discussion will involve current library challenges and the most efficient and strategic solutions for solving them. Active audience participation will also be encouraged in soliciting attendees’ perspective on these matters in their own libraries.
Participants will leave the session with a better an interesting take on the history of e-books, the challenges being faced in acquisitions, and what we have to look forward to in the future that will enhance acquisition and provide the greatest return on their investment.
