Electronic Books: Library Perspectives LSTAFunded Electronic Book Evaluation Project Rochester, New

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Electronic BooksLibrary PerspectivesLSTA-Funde
dElectronic Book Evaluation ProjectRochester,
New York

• March 2, 2000

Susan Gibbons
Electronic Book Project Director sgibbons_at_mcls.roc
hester.lib.ny.us
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Types of Electronic Books

• Read via computer

• Content Providers
• netLibrary
• Questia
• Books 24x7
• Software
• Glassbook/Adobe
• Microsoft Reader

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Types of Electronic Books

• Multi-functional
• PDAs- Palm Pilot
• Dedicated Readers
• Rocket eBook
• SoftBook Reader
• REB1100 1200

• Read via portable readers

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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eBook Genres (as of 2/8/01)

• 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

• TOTAL- 3,922

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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
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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
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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
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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

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Evaluation Project

• User surveys
• Focus groups
• Librarians
• Patrons
• Educators
• Documented trials and tribulations

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Challenges

• Cataloging
• Circulation
• Digital phone lines
• Appropriate titles
• Browsing
• Preservation

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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

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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

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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

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Next Generation Devices by Gemstar/RCA
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goReader

• 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

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Franklin eBookman

• 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

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Pocket PCs with Microsoft Reader Software
HPs Jornada
Compaqs 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

Casios Cassiopeia
Symbols PPT 2700
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Glassbook Software (Adobe)

• For PCs only
• Free or Plus Version for 39
• Notes, dictionary, highlighting
• PDF format
• Printing if publisher allows
• 300 titles
• Comics
• Childrens
• Other Products
• Content Server
• Library Server
• Kiosk

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Projects 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

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Contact Info

• Susan Gibbons
• LSTA Electronic Book Project Director
• Digital Initiatives Librarian
• University of Rochester
• sgibbons_at_mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us
• Projects Website http//www.rrlc.org/ebook/eboo
  khome.html

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.