[WEB4LIB] netLibrary vs OverDrive - pros and cons for a public library

[Susan Kantor-Horning]

Hello,
 
I'm a member of the Califa (the California Service Bureau) E-book Steering Committee, formerly the Golden Gateway Library Network E-book Consortium, and we've been selecting and evaluating ebooks for multi-type libraries for a number of years.
 
While many of our members have over 4,000 netLibrary titles in their collections, we continuously evaluate the platforms, content, and issues associated with the other vendors of digital library products.
 
OverDrive is very attractive to us right now because it carries more popular materials than netLibrary and they are adding audio titles into the mix. OverDrive provides protected ebooks and audio books using the Adobe Content Server and Microsoft DRM Technology. OverDrive content can be downloaded onto many portable devices, such as pda's and cell phones. It doesn't work with the iPod.
 
netLibrary also allows downloading for offline viewing, if you purchase the Adobe software, but no one in the Consortium has made this purchase. 
 
Another positive aspect of OverDrive is that the user interface can be tailored to look like your library's site instead of their content server site. People can use their library barcodes to check items out and don't have to create a separate account as you do with netLibrary.  
 
The titles you purchase belong to your system which seems less confusing than netLibrary's leasing vs. purchasing model. The Consortium had some trouble with netLibrary's billing process and was unexpectedly charged access fees going back several years.
 
We also have 25 technical titles available from Safari (Proquest). Some of these titles included ones we already owned through netLibrary, except netLibrary had lost the rights. Safari is working on cleaning up their MARC Records, which have been problematic. We're currently looking at Baker and Taylor ED - for a separate legal collection.
 
 
Susan Kantor-Horning
Electronic Resources Specialist
Contra Costa County Library
 
 
Peter Schoenberg <PSchoenberg at EPL.CA> wrote:
We are looking to begin offering eBooks late this year or early next
year.

I am asking for any information you could provide that would help decide
which vendor is the preferred vendor.

There are many factors we expect to consider, interested in hearing what
your criteria have been, any surprises and regrets etc.

Obvious factors include:
Titles, formats, price, pricing models, usability for customers, ease of
orders, ease of maintenance

If I receive direct replies, I will summarize them for the list (unless
your comments are noted as being stricly off-list).

Peter
__________________________________________________ 
Peter Schoenberg (780) 496 1855 
Manager - Virtual Services - Edmonton Public Library 
www.epl.ca 







		
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