Is anyone using the Kindle or Nook in their library? If so, how does that work? I definitely see it as the future and want to be on the cutting edge in the library. Anyone using it or have suggestions on how to use it let me know.
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This Toronto-based company makes budget friendly e-readers, but also makes e-books available in any/many formats for whateve device you are reading on. I don't know anything else about them - happened to see them mentioned in my local newspaper.
Carol, I started a thread on this some time ago (maybe you can search for that here?). There was much discussion about it. If I remember correctly, anything that is considered public domain (not copyrighted, etc.) is fair game to have in your collection if you obtain an electronic copy. Our software (ResourceMate) has the ability to handle all these types of ebook files, but we are severely limited in our ability to provide them because they are all protected. It appears that if someone BUYS an ebook they are prohibited by law from sharing the file with another person (unless specifically stated). One way around it is to subscribe to an ebook lending service (the best I found was Overdrive), but at my last check the annual cost was $6000. This is somewhat (snicker) out of my budget range. They did not offer any less expensive options such as only providing access to Christian works or something like pay-per-borrow basis. In short, they create a website for you that mimics your library website in appearance where your patrons can search the catalog. Then they 'borrow' the ebook file for a period of time, transfer it to the device, and at the end of the checkout period the file apparently corrupts itself and is no longer usable.
I am anxiously awaiting some development in this area as it is certainly the future. I stopped by my local library and spoke at length to them about this technology and how they use it; you may want to do the same.
Carol, Hi! We are going to have a conference on this in October in Austin. Hope you can attend. We are certainly going to have to begin looking at all of these possibilities because the "times they are a changing" for libraries. If we don't want to be left behind in providing the word to our people, we are going to have to explore options.
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http://www.kobobooks.com/about_us
This Toronto-based company makes budget friendly e-readers, but also makes e-books available in any/many formats for whateve device you are reading on. I don't know anything else about them - happened to see them mentioned in my local newspaper.
Carol, I started a thread on this some time ago (maybe you can search for that here?). There was much discussion about it. If I remember correctly, anything that is considered public domain (not copyrighted, etc.) is fair game to have in your collection if you obtain an electronic copy. Our software (ResourceMate) has the ability to handle all these types of ebook files, but we are severely limited in our ability to provide them because they are all protected. It appears that if someone BUYS an ebook they are prohibited by law from sharing the file with another person (unless specifically stated). One way around it is to subscribe to an ebook lending service (the best I found was Overdrive), but at my last check the annual cost was $6000. This is somewhat (snicker) out of my budget range. They did not offer any less expensive options such as only providing access to Christian works or something like pay-per-borrow basis. In short, they create a website for you that mimics your library website in appearance where your patrons can search the catalog. Then they 'borrow' the ebook file for a period of time, transfer it to the device, and at the end of the checkout period the file apparently corrupts itself and is no longer usable.
I am anxiously awaiting some development in this area as it is certainly the future. I stopped by my local library and spoke at length to them about this technology and how they use it; you may want to do the same.
Carol, Hi! We are going to have a conference on this in October in Austin. Hope you can attend. We are certainly going to have to begin looking at all of these possibilities because the "times they are a changing" for libraries. If we don't want to be left behind in providing the word to our people, we are going to have to explore options.
Rita Kirkland