SPEC Kit 313: E-book Collections · 55
Please enter any additional comments on e-book reading equipment at your library. N=10
At this time we are still at the mercy of suppliers as far as format for e-books, so we are not going to try to make the
content available on all devices unless that is supported by the publishers.
Considering lending out some Kindles.
Our plan is to collect e-books that don’t require special readers or other equipment. We plan to get items that can
readily be used from one’s personal computer.
Studying this as a possible future service.
The type of equipment used is largely determined by the abilities of the individual product. Our only requirement is
that it be usable on a standard PC/laptop via a Web browser.
Through a partnership with Cleveland Public Library, they supply leisure reading materials to Kelvin Smith Library.
Included in this collection are Playaway digital audio books that are self-playing, portable, and pre-loaded.
We currently are experimenting with an in-house Kindle and are looking at additional devices. Consideration is being
given to purchasing some for loan.
We do check out laptops that can be used to access our e-book collection.
We have a Kindle now, but we are not at the point of actively lending them yet.
We would love to be able to loan Kindles we are highly annoyed that two major interfaces, ebrary and NetLibrary, do
not work well with MACS or handhelds.
23. Have users expressed any preferences for type of e-book reading equipment? N=59
Yes 9 15%
No 50 85%
If yes, please explain.
For our medical students and users in related or other areas, access via PDA or other handhelds is key.
I have heard that a few have asked about e-books for Kindle readers.
If I may broaden the definition of ‘equipment,’ the vast majority of our e-books are accessed from computer
workstations (either in the library or personal machines). The expressions we have heard are not about hardware
but the various e-book reader platforms. NetLibrary is widely reviled by students — almost certainly because of
the inconvenience for printing from that platform — and the single-user limitation on NetLibrary collection titles (a
consortial purchase limitation, and some of our earliest purchases).
Mobile.
Preferences vary with the individual and the pace of technology.
Please enter any additional comments on e-book reading equipment at your library. N=10
At this time we are still at the mercy of suppliers as far as format for e-books, so we are not going to try to make the
content available on all devices unless that is supported by the publishers.
Considering lending out some Kindles.
Our plan is to collect e-books that don’t require special readers or other equipment. We plan to get items that can
readily be used from one’s personal computer.
Studying this as a possible future service.
The type of equipment used is largely determined by the abilities of the individual product. Our only requirement is
that it be usable on a standard PC/laptop via a Web browser.
Through a partnership with Cleveland Public Library, they supply leisure reading materials to Kelvin Smith Library.
Included in this collection are Playaway digital audio books that are self-playing, portable, and pre-loaded.
We currently are experimenting with an in-house Kindle and are looking at additional devices. Consideration is being
given to purchasing some for loan.
We do check out laptops that can be used to access our e-book collection.
We have a Kindle now, but we are not at the point of actively lending them yet.
We would love to be able to loan Kindles we are highly annoyed that two major interfaces, ebrary and NetLibrary, do
not work well with MACS or handhelds.
23. Have users expressed any preferences for type of e-book reading equipment? N=59
Yes 9 15%
No 50 85%
If yes, please explain.
For our medical students and users in related or other areas, access via PDA or other handhelds is key.
I have heard that a few have asked about e-books for Kindle readers.
If I may broaden the definition of ‘equipment,’ the vast majority of our e-books are accessed from computer
workstations (either in the library or personal machines). The expressions we have heard are not about hardware
but the various e-book reader platforms. NetLibrary is widely reviled by students — almost certainly because of
the inconvenience for printing from that platform — and the single-user limitation on NetLibrary collection titles (a
consortial purchase limitation, and some of our earliest purchases).
Mobile.
Preferences vary with the individual and the pace of technology.
