Transcript

Barbara Schleihagen, German Library Association

E-books in German Public Libraries: Challenges and Solutions

EBLIDA-NAPLE conference

with FESABID

One profession, one

future?

27 May 2011, Malaga

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Contents

• Background: Development of German e-book market, consumer behaviour, German public libraries

• E-lending in German public libraries: Divibib GmbH• How it works and why it is attractive to libraries• Some statistics: libraries, digital items, digital lending• Challenges and solutions: patrons, publishers,

librarians

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Background: German e-book market in 2010• 2 Mio e-books sold• 540.000 e-book buyers • 0,5 % of the customer book market• 5% of the total turnover in publishing• 16% of total turnover in publishing expected in 2015• Available now are ca. 20.000 titles (Libreka)

• (figures 2010, presentation Börsenverein, 11.03.2011)

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Background: German consumer behaviour

54% of all Germans

consider buying e-books

81% of the under 30

years old

(Bitkom Webmonitor March 2011)

They are interested in: -Scientific textbooks (28%)-Travel guides (28%)-Advice books (27%)-Non-fiction (26%)-Fiction (14%)

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Background: German public libraries• 82 Mio inhabitants• 10,021 public libraries• 660,000 patrons visit our libraries each day• 10,82 Mio readers are registered library users• 200 Mio patrons visit our libraries each year • 362 Mio media units are held by our libraries• 466 Mio media units are borrowed by

users/year

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E-lending in German public libraries: Divibib GmbH• Founded in 2006, started in 2007 with 4 pilot libraries• Subsidiary of ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH• Offers complete service with all components:

- Implementation of online platform as digital library branch- Internet based service without installation needed- Technical support for running services- Negotiation of licences and distribution of digital contents- Subject indexing and delivery of catalogue entries in MAB2

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How it worksRegistered library users• Visit homepage of local library• Browse digital content (format, topic, full text)• Put interesting materials into library basket• Log-in with personal data before lending• Download of materials to PC/e-book reader• Library determines length of lending/no. of

items

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Why it is attractive to libraries• Extension of service offer to 24/7• New user groups (employed people 30-40 years)• Better offer in rural areas next to mobile libraries• Reduction of space/maintainance costs• Less administration• One supplier that negotiates on behalf of libraries• Single platform for delivery to the user• Package possible, individual titles possible

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Some statistics: libraries using Divibib GmbH

• Offered by 200 public libraries in Germany• = 9,3% of all public libraries in Germany• Austria (5), Switzerland (4), Italy (1)

• individual or consortia purchasing

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Some statistics: media offer by Divibib GmbH

• 50.000 media units negotiated• 17.600 media units on offer• At least 100 new media added per week • mainly e-books added

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Some statistics: media offer by Divibib GmbH

• E-paper/e-magazine: 8 subscription packages/23 magazines

• E-books: 13.000• E-audio: 3.200• E-video: 700• E-Music: 350

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Some statistics: digital copies in stock Divibib

Media format 2009 2010 16.05.2011

All formats 540.598 618.459 642.057

eAudio 57.012 77.543 83.034

eBook 183.117 243.141 252.023

eMusic 153.957 120.929 116.347

ePub 1.782 10.697 20.521

eVideo 15.977 19.620 20.277

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Some statistics: digital lending

Media format 2009 2010 16.05.2011

All formats 594.561 1.038.183 523.446

eAudio 170.812 300.304 149.529

eBook 243.443 403.821 185.323

eMusic 25.188 28.190 10.501

ePub 852 25.364 48.105

eVideo 41.982 55.416 22.750

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Example: Berlin Public library system

• 20.000 Berliners or 5% of all registered library patrons

• Access to ca. 10.000 titles• Fiction: 500 titles• In high demand: advice books

in law and economics• Increasing loan figures

2009: 100.0002010: 140.000

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Challenges for all

• Various data formats- PDF- ePub- Mobipocket- AZW by Amazon

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Challenges for all

• Many reading devices• Reader on E-Ink-Basis• Tablet PCs• Smartphones

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Challenges for library patrons• Restricted media offer (especially for current

feature films, music and popular bestsellers)• Access to e-media often not integrated into

library catalogues• Problems with digital rights management

software (Adobe DRM Systems, Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights Management)

• Cannot „return“ e-books earlier

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Solutions for library patrons

• Media offer: negotiations still very difficult• Library catalogue: Some library software producers

offer interface, DiviBiB offers MAB data and media covers for integration into catalogues

• DRM problems: improved new version of Adobe DRM

• New: Apps for iPad and iPhone for e-books in e-Pub • Android platform to follow this year

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Problems with publishers

Often no library licence for most popular titles due to

• Lack of authors rights• Limited experiences with e-books• Limited knowledge of consumer behaviour• Loss of profit on books bought but never read• Fear of private copies being sold in a consumer

market of “used” e-books

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Problems with publishers

• Current business model: one digital copy to one reader at a time

• Remote access

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Solutions in cooperation with publishers

• Undertake studies that will test various business models in various libaries:• Annual subscription model (Bloomsbury)• Demand-driven acquision model (some university libraries)• Simultaneous e-book use in first month only after publication• Restriction-free lending for items likely to lead to sales• Charging users? (Askews and Holts using PayPal)• …

• Join forces with publishers as to not hamper access to information, regardless of format

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Challenges for librarians

• No financial means• Not seen as integrative part but as special offer• Lack of experiences in media and technology • No comprehensive study of user habits or user

satisfaction with digital media available• Digital media not visible to library patrons

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Solutions for librarians• Fundraising and Sponsoring for kick-off • Integration of e-media into library catalogue and

library statistics• Nation-wide qualification campaign

(associations!)• User study being planned by master students in

region with 68.000 library patrons• Representative non-library user study being

planned by German Library Association

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Solutions for librarians

• Visibility: Marketing tools available from DiviBib: digital frames, bookmarks, posters…

• Increased local media work at various occasions: new ebook reader, new offers, new applications…

• Increased advertisement in Internet: Homepage, Facebook, Twitter, Blog…

• Integrated in reference service and training offers

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Free access to information regardless of format

• Even in 20 years, there will still be a considerable numbers of “ digital immigrants”. They may be just as digitally literate as the “digital natives” but may still prefer the printed book.

• Also some young people might still want to access books, just as some older people are currently users of digital resources.

• The library has to cater for both needs.

Prensky (2001) in: National Library of Scotland (2010): Thriving or Surviving? National Library of Scotland in 2030, p.

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What matters now

is for us to roll up our sleeves

and get down to business

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Thank you!

Barbara Schleihagen

[email protected]

www.bibliotheksverband.de


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