EBOOKS AND ELENDING

A snapshot of the situation in Australian public libraries, first quarter 2013

ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee survey

EBOOKS ARE COMING

69% of public libraries lend ebooks

Of the other 31%, almost all (95%) plan to do so within the next two years

DELAYED BY...

Budget constraints 76%Technology issues 54%Licensing restrictions 39%Content inadequacies 32%

THEY ARE TINY RIGHT NOW

In 99% of libraries with ebooks, they represent less than 5% of loans

and in 72% of these libraries they account for less than 1%

WHO DO YOU CHOOSE?

67% of libraries can’t get what they need from one supplier

WHAT WE ARE MISSING

Libraries are less than satisfied or not satisfied with the choice of:

Bestsellers 79%Books by Australians 65%Overall content 59%Popular authors 57%

FITTING OUR SYSTEMS

While 55% of libraries can incorporate ebook titles in their catalogues, only 30% of libraries offer ebook downloads direct from the catalogue

LOANING HARDWARE

Only 19% of libraries offering ebooks have ereaders for people to borrow

DO WE HAVE THE SKILLS?

39% of libraries say most or all of the library team are conversant with ebooks and ereaders

58% say some or a couple of members of the team are ebook/ereader conversant