Complications of Forging eBook Deals Rob Kairis Library

Complications of Forging e-Book Deals Rob Kairis Library Director Kent State University at Stark

E-Book Complications … Why Me? • Member of the Ohio. LINK Collection Building Task Force • Natural born complainer • I love the idea of e-Books, hate how they have been handled • Happened to be in my office when the call came yesterday afternoon Consider this presentation … Less of a scholarly discussion and more the ranting of a frustrated librarian http: //sbcstudentministry. com/2011/10/25/c 4 -on-10 -26 -why-me/

E-Book Complications … Physics • Print books exist physically while … e-Books do not • You can own a print book … you sign perpetual licenses for e-Books • Print books are bound by space and time (can only be in 1 place at one time, at a time) … e-Books can be in many places simultaneously Irony … The cost of e. Books is always based on the cost of print Cost = List. Price X <multiplier> http: //www. sciencehumor. org/2009/obey-the-laws-of-physics

E-Book Complications … Consortium issues (in case it wasn’t obvious) • Ohio. LINK has a long history of sharing books (PCIRC) • The circ vs ILL 60/40 rule is now the 40/60 rule • As a result of cooperative collection development efforts (soft caps, Go. Between, etc. ) libraries are more conscious of reducing print duplication Problem for consortia … Independent e-Books purchasing reverses years of cooperation https: //www. ohiolink. edu/ostaff/marketing/logos/ohiolinklogo_Univers. jpg

E-Book Complications … Consortium issues (in case it wasn’t obvious) As consortium members increase purchases of e-Books … There is less sharing … As consortium members share less … There is more duplication … As duplication increases across the consortium … The level of unique content decreases Kairis, R. (2012). A subject-based shared approval plan for consortia purchasing of U. S. university press books. Library Collections, Acquisitions, & Technical Services, 36(1/2), 30 -38.

E-Book Complications … Consortium complications • Past purchasing history (of print): How many print copies were purchased in the consortium? • Who pays? All institutions participate, or just the big guys? • What is the correct multiplier for unlimited access? Should it be the same for every publisher? Problem for consortia … How does Ohio. LINK forge a cooperative e-Book deal? https: //www. ohiolink. edu/ostaff/marketing/logos/ohiolinklogo_Univers. jpg

E-Book Complications … Ohio. LINK’s Approach 1. Digital Collection. Content based on subject (LC classes) where a majority of print purchases were made LC CLASS PRINT SUMMARY DA – Great Britain DS-DT – Asia. Africa E-F – History of the Americas HB-HD – Economics HF-HJ – Business HM-HQ, HV – Sociology ML – Music

E-Book Complications … Ohio. LINK’s Approach 1. Digital Collection. Content based on subject (LC classes) where a majority of print purchases were made LC CLASS PRINT SUMMARY BL – Religion BP – Islam 2. e. Approval Plan. Similar to #1 but more selective G-GV – Geography, Environmental Science, Anthropology, Recreation JC, JF, JK, JZ – Political Science PR – English Literature PS – American Literature

E-Book Complications … Ohio. LINK’s Approach 1. Digital Collection. Content based on subject (LC classes) where a majority of print purchases were made 2. e. Approval Plan. Similar to #1 but more selective 3. Demand-Driven Acquisitions (DDA or PDA). Titles populated in library cataloged, purchased based on user activity Irony … Do we need collection development librarians? http: //eclecticlibrarian. net/blog/2012/04/erl-2012 -taking-the-guesswork-out-of-demand-driven-acquisition-two-approaches/

E-Book Complications … If I ruled the world 1. Base costs on past history with each publisher (plus an access fee). Ensures publisher consistency. 2. Give the library access to EVERYTHING. 3. Allow the library to purchase selected items. Can be based on usage (DDA like) or selected by librarians, or both. The rest should be considered leased. Solution… Everyone gets what they want Problem… I don’t rule the world http: //www. saturdayeveningpost. com/2012/01/04/humor/lighter-side/ruled-world. html

E-Book Complications … Quesitons