[Web4lib] RE: library automation vendors

[Jim Campbell]

Yeah, the distribution is as much a problem as the readers. NetLibrary is
not a great model and noone has really found a good model that will allow
easy circulation from a library without panicing publishers. That said, we
kept our original NetLibrary package, though we haven't added much to it,
and have noticed steadily increasing use. The interesting thing is the range
of titles that get used, things in the humanities that you wouldn't expect.

But there are good reference services - notably Oxford's - and technical
books do well. Safari is very popular here and that's by no means just
academic titles.

Like I said, eventually.

- Jim Campbell
Campbell at Virginia.edu
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org 
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Edelblute
> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 3:39 PM
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: RE: [Web4lib] RE: library automation vendors
> 
> Four years ago, Anaheim loaded the MARC records for 2,000 
> NetLibrary e-books into our system.  We then advertised with 
> posters and bookmarks of our e-book collection.  We had 36 
> hits on our e-books over the six-month trial period.  After 
> that, the e-book records were removed from our system and we 
> opted out of the program.
> 
> My message to e-book vendors since then has been "until you 
> have quick reference titles to offer, we have nothing to talk about."
> 
> Of course, their response has been that Quick Reference 
> titles are more expensive to reproduce so that is why their 
> offerings are limited there.
> My response to that, not my problem. 
> 
> 
> Thomas Edelblute
> Anaheim Public Library
>