Primary Research Group has published Public Library Use of eBooks, ISBN 9781574403077

[James Moses]

Primary Research Group has published Public Library Use of eBooks, ISBN 9781574403077

This 167 page study gives highly detailed data on the eBook purchasing and deployment policies of a sample of 70 public libraries. The survey helps its readers to answer questions such as:  how much are public libraries spending on eBooks? How much do they spend on specific vendors and publishers such as OverDrive, Baker & Taylor, EBSCO, Recorded Books, Gale and Harper Collins, Penguin/Random House and many others.  What percentage of best sellers do they make available as eBooks? How is the profusion of tablet computers affecting their plans?  In what subject areas are public libraries most interested in building their eBook collections?

The study also gives detailed data on the extent that various eBook use and purchasing models account for library eBook spending, providing data on ownership models, pay per view models, subscription models and others.  The study also provides data on the growth rate of each type of model.  The report also looks at how libraries use public domain eBooks.

The study also provides detailed data on the use of eAudiobooks presenting data on expenditures, growth rates, and the number of titles held.  In addition the report looks at the extent to which public libraries are able to make available eBooks for best sellers, and their overall strategy for reconciling their print and eBook collections. 

The study also looks at the growing use of tablet computers in public library, at the uses and abuses of eBook use statistics, use of electronic directories, the direction of eBook prices, and many other issues in public library eBook selection and management. 

Just a few of the study’s major findings are that:  

•	Public library spending on eBooks is expected to increase by 33 percent in 2014.
•	In 2013, the libraries in the sample spent a mean of $10,861 on eAudiobooks.
•	Libraries in the sample estimate that a mean of 53.72 percent of their eBook collection spending is through contracts negotiated by consortium.
•	Survey participants estimate that nearly half (a mean of 48.36 percent) the top 20 print titles that were loaned out to patrons in the last year are also available for loan as eBooks.

Data in the report is broken out separately for libraries based on size of staff, size of library service area, local area per capita income and other criteria. For further information view our website at www.PrimaryResearch.com or visit the product page for this report at: 

http://www.primaryresearch.com/view_product.php?report_id=499  

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2014-09-09