Friday, October 15, 2010

No Shelf Required: E-Books in Libraries

No Shelf Required: E-Books in Libraries, edited by Sue Polanka, Chicago : American Library Association, 2011. 182 p.

From the publisher:
E-books have been around for more than 10 years but are still a relatively new phenomenon to many librarians and publishers. With the introduction of e-book readers, the e-book has become mainstream, with recent triple-digit annual increases in sales. But what place do they have in the library? In this volume, Sue Polanka brings together a variety of professionals to share their expertise about e-books with librarians and publishers. Providing forward-thinking ideas while remaining grounded in practical information that can be implemented in all kinds of libraries, the topics explored include:

  • An introduction to e-books, the different types, and an overview of their history and development
  • E-book technology: general features of interfaces and e-book readers, best practices for acquisition, data standards, and how to track usage
  • Why e-books are good for learning, and how librarians can market them to a wide range of users, as illustrated by case studies and examples
This collection is a must-read for librarians who wish to understand how e-books fit into today’s library.