2015 Charleston Library Conference

Ebook publishers are still searching for the best way to package and sell titles. Their changeable nature results in varied usability and access considerations for libraries. The objective of this session is to highlight trends and practices in eBook publishing by society publishers in the life and physical sciences. The study will be modeled on previously completed research examining major eBook publishers such as Springer and Elsevier (Kerby & Trei, in press). The presenters will explore eBook availability and purchasing options, as well as any terms affecting access and usability, such as Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions, usage allowances, usability factors, and the availability of MARC records. The result of this analysis will be the identification of guidelines for collection managers when purchasing eBooks from society publishers. The importance of collaboration between collection managers in related disciplines will be discussed, as well as methods to enhance collaboration. Questions and comments from the audience will be encouraged in order to facilitate conversation. Audience members can expect to leave the session with practical information about eBook offerings from specific society publishers, what to consider when making purchases, and guidelines for collaborating with other collection managers and librarians at their institutions.

Kerby, E.E., Trei, K. (in press). Minding the Gap: eBook Package Purchasing. "Collection Building".