li855 - electronic resources: collection development issues for the present and future

7/28/2019 LI855 - Electronic Resources: Collection Development Issues for the Present and Future

1/10

Running Head: ELECTRONIC RESOURCES 1

Electronic Resources: Collection Development Issues for the Present and Future

Jayme Johnson

LI 855 XA


2/10

ELECTRONIC RESOURCES 2

Electronic Resources: Collection Development Issues for the Present and Future

More and more the world of public and academic libraries is seeing a shift to

electronic formats and increased patron interest in e-books and e-readers. But this increased

interest in electronic resources also spells a change in the collection development strategies

and policies. Changing from print to electronic formats introduces a whole host of

challenges and changes from purchasing techniques and collection circulation to cost

comparisons and vendors issues. How can library collection development and management

teams prepare for these increasing changes? What are the main issues collection

management teams will have to deal with? What changes and challenges will staff have to

deal with to remain relevant and provide patrons with the most up to date and requested

electronic resources?

One of the areas most affected by the surge electronic books and readers is the

collection development department. Some of the keys areas affected are interlibrary loan,

cataloging, purchasing and vendors, and collection circulation. One of the first and most

apparent changes is the purchasing of electronic materials. There are several aspects to this

that complicate what could have been a smooth transition. Although many publishing

companies allow the libraries to pick and choose the specific titles that are purchased, many

companies also offer packaged selections that allow the library the ease of not choosing the

specific books. Although this choice does come with a downside since it could include

popular titles and ones not necessarily of interest to your patron set. Another change in

purchasing electronic vs. print is the idea of purchasing books in a single use or multi-user

formats (Romero, 2011, p. 175). If the collection development team chooses to purchase

only single use format, that means the electronic book or resources will be lent out as if it


3/10


is a physical book, i.e. one at a time. But publishers are also offering multi-user access,

which means that libraries can offer multiple copies of the same e-book, limiting the time

patrons have to wait. This option, while convenient, often comes with a price tag that is

higher than the single use access. Another option that is different from print ordering is the

option to purchase the e-book in perpetuity or purchase only a license that allows access for

a certain period of time. While purchasing the book out right would be more expensive at

the fore-front, purchasing a license also come with drawbacks, primarily buying the same

book every year and the risk of losing that book if the licensing agreements change

(Romero, p. 175).

Just as purchasing electronic resources for the library is change significantly, so will

how to get the resources to the patrons. Since the object is entirely digital, the most obvious

line of circulation will be the online catalog used by the library. The material is displayed

and included into the librarys web based catalog. Many of the e-book platforms then direct

the patron to download from another website. Changing back and forth between the library

web page and the e-book platform has come up against opponents, mostly in the library

itself. Patrons that are used to one type of library webpage are becoming confused by the

redirection that is needed to download the e-book. Circulation is also effected by the

decreased amount of lost, missing, and stolen books. Many libraries provide e-books that

contain a DRM (Digital Rights Management) system built-in, this way e-books are checked

out to one person at a time and automatically returned after the designated check out date

(Romero, p. 176).

This change also effects how e-books and resources are cataloged. Since they are

not available physically in the library, the cataloging is based solely on MARC and


4/10


electronic records. These records can cause problems with accessibility when the library

website has to direct the patron to another platform for downloading. This fragmentation

of the downloading process can increase user confusing and make the process of checking

out and downloading e-books more complicated that it needs to be (LaRue, 2012, p. 29).

Finally an area that is highly affected by the move towards electronic resources and

e-books are the lending of books via interlibrary loan. Interlibrary Loan is an important facet

of the library system, if one library lacks a specific book needed by a patron; a simple ILL

request can bring that item in from another library or even another state. But as more and

more libraries begin to invest in electronic resources, less and less will be eligible for

loaning to other libraries. Currently most e-book vendors do not allow for ILL of electronic

resources, those few that do tend to sell to academic libraries (Sendze, 201, p. 35).

While some of these changes are basic and would not require many adjustments to

implement, some might cause headaches for library and collection development staff.

Complication and challenges would come from several different areas including; access &

availability, cost, e-readers, vendors, and technological issues. By looking at the possible

problems that libraries will have with implementing e-books into their collection some

solutions might become more visible.

First one of the most prominent complications is the availability to some of the more

popular titles. Many large publishing houses are refusing to make some titles available

through electronic means. In Kansas there is now a Facebook page that is generating some

attention to what they are calling the Big Six, these are the six major publishers that are

refusing to offer many popular books via electronic means. The publishers, Hachette,

Macmillan, Penguin Group, Harper-Collins, Random House, and Simon & Schuster, are


5/10


either not offering bestsellers to libraries or are increasing the cost for libraries to purchase

the books. These tactics are presumably due to the dramatic increase of interest in electronic

resources colliding with thepublishers uneasiness towards electronic formats. Publishers

are most likely afraid of losing control of their offerings, they are aware of what happened

within the music industry over the last ten years, with peer-to-peer sharing. Publishers are

pulling the reigns in and trying to keep control of their e-book sales with overly stringent

regulations.

In addition to the lack of availability of popular bestsellers, publishers are also

dramatically increasing the price of electronic resources. When compared with both print

book prices and direct consumer prices, publishers are charging libraries exorbitant amounts

for electronic versions. Douglas County Libraries in Colorado have recently put together a

chart showing a few of the bestsellers currently available and the prices for books and e-

books for libraries and consumers, the results are surprising. Of the few e-books that are

actually available to libraries, the prices when compared to the consumer price is general 5

to 6 times higher for the library (Gargen, 2012). Not only are libraries dealing with

increased prices but they are also being forced to endure caps on the amount of time an

electronic book can be in circulation. Many publishers are also enforcing a rule of 26

checkouts. They claim that this is the average number of times a print book is checked out

before it is discarded but unlike print books electronic resources do not age or gather wear

and tear so usage caps are arbitrary limitations. As of right now publishers have the final say

on the price and usage of electronic resources but libraries and librarians are beginning to

push back (as indicated by the Kansas State Library Facebook campaign). Those in the


6/10


library profession need to fight back and demand better costs and options for electronic

resources (Sendze, p.35).

Some people also believe that e-books and other electronic resources will be the

death of libraries. While I dont believe that this is necessarily true, I do think that libraries

will have expand their views on what libraries can do for a community and change how they

market themselves. Since e-books are electronic, there is no need for the patrons to

physically come to the library to pick out a new book. A quick internet stroll to the libraries

homepage and patrons can download and place holds on whatever they desire. But this

doesnt have to mean that the library as a physical place becomes obsolete. Libraries will

still be highly valued and needed as meeting, collaboration, and community spaces as well

as places for those who need access to electronic resources that dont have the means

(Breeding, 2011, p. 35). Which brings me to my last topic....

E-readers. While electronic resources are handy and easily portable, it also means

that you have to have access to a portable e-reader. While prices are coming down, owning

e-readers are still a significant investment, one that not everyone can afford. Although some

libraries are able to afford purchasing and lending e-readers to patrons, the costs are still

high enough that it is not feasible for all libraries. Even though libraries might not be

comfortable with purchasing e-readers or dont have the funds to make them available they

will most certainly have to deal with the influx of e-readers and electronic books questions

about how they work and trouble-shooting. Librarians, who until now just had to deal with

computer related problems, are now being asked to know how e-readers work...all of them.

With more and more versions of e-readers being released every year, librarians have a sharp

learning curve to handle. Teaching the staff to handle questions about e-readers and other


7/10


types of electronic questions will only increase the reliance on the library and keep patrons

returning.

So how does this all add up for the future of libraries, when faced with the

overwhelmingly growing support of e-books? Will libraries become obsolete if e-books and

e-readers take over?No. Libraries still have a vital role to play for the community and e-

books and resources are just another aspect of that. But there are some areas that libraries

and librarians will have to work on improving and changing with the introduction of so

much e-content.

First, training is most likely going to be needed for library staff on the dozens of e-

readers that are currently on the market. As e-content and e-books become more and more

ubiquitous, staff will be looked at for help. Training the staff to know how to load e-books,

apps and just overall trouble shooting will help patrons and keep them coming in for more

help from their friendly neighborhood librarians. Second, as the library moves towards more

digital content (more digital content, not lack on print books I should stress) they need to

make themselves more available as a community gathering place. The community can get to

know the library not only for the print and electronic content that it offers but also for the

classes, community gatherings and collaboration spaces that it offers.

Finally and probably the most difficult to do, libraries and librarians need to assert

their opinions and voices into the e-content fray. Libraries are an important place for those

who are underprivileged to gain access to the internet, so it seems plausible that in the future

libraries will be the place were e-books and e-content are obtained. But we cannot afford to

let the publishers and selling companies decide how and what books are sold to libraries

(Breeding, p. 26). As James LaRue (2012) states, libraries dont have to sit back passively


8/10


as publishers and distributors unilaterally redefine the terms of our relationship (p. 29). As

e-content grows, libraries and librarians will adapt and grow as well.


9/10


References

Bowles, V., & Hazzan, L. (2012). Balancing Patron Demand for All Formats.Public

Libraries, 51(1), 3840.

Breeding, M. (2011). Ebook Lending:Asserting the Value of Libraries as the Future of

Books Unfolds. Computers in Libraries, 31(9), 2427.

Collins, T. (2012). The Current Budget Environment and Its Impact on Libraries, Publishers

and Vendors.Journal of Library Administration, 52(1), 1835.

doi:10.1080/01930826.2012.630643

Fialkoff, F. (2012, April 15). First Harper, Now Random.Library Journal, p. 8.

Gargan, Karen. (2012). Douglas County Libraries Report, Pricing Comparison as of October

31, 2012. Retrieved from http://evoke.cvlsites.org/files/2012/10/DCLPriceReportOct-31-

12.pdf

Greenwalt, R.T. (2012). Developing an E-Book Strategy.Public Libraries, 51(1), 2224.

Hilyard, N.B.. (2012). Making E-Books Feel at Home.Public Libraries, 51(1), 1720.

Hodges, D., Preston, C., & Hamilton, M. (2010). Resolving the Challenge of E-Books.

Collection Management, 35, 196200. doi:10.1080/01462679.2010.486964

LaRue, J. (2012). The Last One Standing.Public Libraries, 51(1), 2832.

Romero, N. L. (2011). The management of e-book collections and their implication on the

economic management of the library.Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances, The, 24(3),

173179. doi:10.1108/08880451111186017

Sendze, M. (2012). The E-Book Experiment.Public Libraries, 51(1), 3437.

Wexelbaum, R., & Miltenoff, P. (2012). Challenges to E-Reader Adoption in Academic

Libraries.Reference Librarian, 53(3), 270283. doi:10.1080/02763877.2012.678747


10/10


Wu, A., & Mitchell, A. M. (2010). Mass Management of E-Book Catalog Records:

Approaches, Challenges, and Solutions.Library Resources & Technical Services, 54(3),

164174.

li855 - electronic resources: collection development issues for the present and future

Documents