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March 2, 2000

Electronic Books: Library Perspectives LSTA-Funded Electronic Book Evaluation Project Rochester, New York. March 2, 2000. Susan Gibbons. Electronic Book Project Director sgibbons@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us. Content Providers netLibrary Questia Books 24x7 Software Glassbook/Adobe

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March 2, 2000

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  1. Electronic Books:Library PerspectivesLSTA-FundedElectronic Book Evaluation ProjectRochester, New York March 2, 2000 Susan Gibbons Electronic Book Project Director sgibbons@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us

  2. Content Providers netLibrary Questia Books 24x7 Software Glassbook/Adobe Microsoft Reader Read via computer Types of Electronic Books

  3. Multi-functional PDA’s- Palm Pilot Dedicated Readers Rocket eBook SoftBook Reader REB1100 & 1200 Read via portable readers Types of Electronic Books

  4. Rocket eBook (original model) • Cost $199 • Grayscale, monochrome screen • Screen size 4.5 x 3” • Resolution of 105 dpi • Weight 1.25 pounds • Capacity 3,500 pages • Battery life- 20-40 hours • HTML, Word & ASCII

  5. SoftBook Reader (original model) • Costs approx. $600 • Grayscale, monochrome screen • Screen size 6 x 8” • Resolution of 72 dpi • Weight 2.9 pounds • Capacity 5,000 pages • Battery life- 5 hours • HTML, Word & ASCII

  6. Features • 6-8 titles loaded simultaneously • Adjustable backlighting • Choice of 2 font sizes • Stylus for margin notes & highlighting • Touch screen for hypertext • Searching • Hyperlinked dictionary (Rocket only) • Bookmarking • A/C adapter & Quick Start Guide • Easy to erase markings • NO printing capability

  7. www.bn.com www.powells.com SoftBook Server ANALOG!

  8. Encryption Problem • Rocket titles only work on Rocket Readers & SoftBook titles only work on SoftBook Readers • Title is encrypted so that it can only work on a single, unique reader • In other words, cannot transfer a purchased title onto any other reader, even of the same model • Cataloging implications

  9. Electronic Books • Current fiction & non-fiction (often with delay) • Usually already in print • Public domain titles • Periodicals and newspaper • Few children's, young adult, academic and • foreign titles

  10. Biography- 115 Business- 188 Classics- 28 Current Events- 10 Fiction & Lit.- 1,939 History- 96 Horror & Suspense- 127 Mind, Body, Spirit- 83 Mystery- 223 Religion- 85 Romance- 420 Sci Fi- 284 Thriller- 165 Travel- 29 Young Adults- 130 eBook Genres (as of 2/8/01) TOTAL- 3,922

  11. eBook Pricing Examples Hardback List Price- $27.95 eBook Price- $22.36 eBook released first Hardback List Price- $25.95 eBook Price- $11.96 eBook released first

  12. eBook-Only Titles Orpheus Emerged by Jack Kerouac $3.95 Glassbook & Microsoft formats The Veteran by Frederick Forsyth $2.99 Glassbook & Microsoft formats 1st of a quintet of short stories

  13. eBook-Enhanced Titles Wish You Well By David Baldacci $14.95 Glassbook & Microsoft format Paper and ebook formats released simultaneously, but eBook version includes original essay by author “Origins of Wish You Well”

  14. Evaluation Project • Call for volunteer “field-test” libraries • Ebook readers into 6 area libraries • 2 academic- RIT and Univ. of Rochester • 2 public- Gates and Fairport Public Libraries • 2 school- high school and middle school • Created own policies and procedures • Circulate readers- • 3 Rocket eBook Readers • 2 SoftBook Readers

  15. Evaluation Project • User surveys • Focus groups • Librarians • Patrons • Educators • Documented trials and tribulations

  16. Challenges • Cataloging • Circulation • Digital phone lines • Appropriate titles • Browsing • Preservation

  17. Results • No complaints of eye strain • 67% read 1 or more complete titles • Combo backlighting & large font • Want devices to be lighter • Patrons really liked • backlighting • several titles in one package • larger fonts

  18. Results • Not just curiosity • 35% prefer ebook; 23% no preference • Reasons for ebook preference • Large fonts, backlighting, easier to read & fun • Reasons for paper book preference • Tradition, more durable, better selection, no battery, less expensive

  19. Patron Differences • Academic Library patrons want multi-functional unit • Public Library patrons want dedicated unit • School Library patrons enjoy novelty • Capture their interest • Teaching tool • ELS students; disabled; low reading comprehension

  20. Next Generation Devices by Gemstar/RCA

  21. E-textbook Reader for Higher Education Capacity for 150 e-textbooks Less than 5 lbs 7.3 x 9.7” color screen Built-in calculator, notepad & calendar Highlighting & notetaking Share notes & annotations Battery life- 5 hours Testing in Spring 2000, available afterwards goReader

  22. $129.95 (8MB) $179.95 (8MB, backlit, enhanced LCD) $229.95 (16MB) ebook reader with PDA functionality Grayscale screen Audio ebook and MP3 player Address & date book Weighs 7 oz. Available February 15, 2001 Franklin eBookman

  23. Pocket PCs with Microsoft Reader Software HP’s Jornada Compaq’s IPac • Combine ebook reader with mini-PC • ClearType technology to improve LCD screens • Bookmarking, highlighting and annotations • Plays MP3 files • Built-in dictionary • Purchase titles from bn.com & amazon.com • 4 models in range of $500-$600 Casio’s Cassiopeia Symbol’s PPT 2700

  24. Glassbook Software (Adobe) • For PCs only • Free or Plus Version for $39 • Notes, dictionary, highlighting • PDF format • Printing if publisher allows • 300+ titles • Comics • Children’s • Other Products • Content Server • Library Server • Kiosk

  25. Project’s Year 2 • Continue to evaluate new ebook technology & issues • Audio ebooks • e-reserves with netLibrary • Next generation SoftBook & Rocket • Special needs- large print text & low hand dexterity • Questia

  26. Susan Gibbons LSTA Electronic Book Project Director & Digital Initiatives Librarian University of Rochester sgibbons@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us Project’s Website: http://www.rrlc.org/ebook/ebookhome.html Contact Info This production was supported by Federal Library Services and Technology Act funds, awarded to The New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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