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Weekly News Digest
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August 13, 2012 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today.
CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items.
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ALA Releases Report on Ebook Business Models for Public Libraries
Based on conversations with publishers and deliberations on the ebook market, the American Library Association (ALA) released “Ebook Business Models for Public Libraries,” a report that describes general features and attributes of the current ebook environment and outlines constraints and restrictions of current business models. The report, which was created by the ALA Digital Content and Libraries Working Group (DCWG), suggests opportunities for publishers to showcase content through public libraries.“Ebook publishing is expanding and evolving rapidly, and the terms under which ebooks are made available to libraries show wide variation and frequent change,” said DCWG co-chair Robert Wolven. “In this volatile period, no single business model will offer the best terms for all libraries or be adopted by all publishers or distributors. This report describes model terms libraries should look for in their dealings with ebook publishers and distributors, as well as conditions libraries should avoid.” The DCWG recommends three basic attributes that should be found in any business model for ebooks: - Inclusion of all titles: All ebook titles available for sale to the public should also be available to libraries
- Enduring rights: Libraries should have the option to effectively own the ebooks they purchase, including the right to transfer them to another delivery platform and to continue to lend them indefinitely
- Integration: Libraries need access to metadata and management tools provided by publishers to enhance the discovery of ebooks
“ALA appreciates that realizing all of these attributes immediately may not be feasible, and a library may elect to do without one or more in return for more favorable terms in other areas, at least temporarily, but these features are ultimately essential to the library’s public role,” said ALA President Maureen Sullivan. The DCWG has developed a number of other resources about ebooks, such as its first “Tip Sheet,” which is on digital rights management, and an E-Content Supplement to American Libraries magazine. Check the American Libraries E-Content blog for new developments from the DCWG. Source: ALA
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Brandi Scardilli
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