In recent times, the e-book has come on strong as society lauds convenience as a means for procuring texts for education and entertainment and e-readers have finally hit the mainstream consciousness. The successes of e-books and e-readers have been a long time coming, predicted well over a decade ago by David Dorman in “The E-Book: Pipe Dream or Potential Disaster?”.
Some of the issues raised in the February 1999 article are currently affecting libraries today. The most important issues confronting information stakeholders, Dorman argued, have to do with "the fact that the digital content of an e-book breaks through the limitations of the book as a physical item - limitations that form the basis for the economic and institutional relationships among the information stakeholders." (Dorman, 36-37). Though a fantasy thirteen years ago, this has become all too true; just as the ease of procuring of an MP3 file has forever altered the way a listener enjoys music, the ease of procuring an e-book in ePub or PDF formats has forever altered the way a reader enjoys reading. "If electronic readers become popular," Dorman went on, "content sources for free e-books... could become the major suppliers of books in the public domain." (Dorman, 37).
Dorman’s article concluded with the following regarding terms and conditions of use:
“In the long run it will not simply be the inevitable success of electronic-book viewers that will profoundly affect libraries; rather it will be the terms and conditions for use of their digital content. It behooves librarians who care about the role of libraries in society and about the need to preserve freedom of information access to take an active role in shaping the fundamental tools and rules that will control our access to digital information.” (Dorman, 39).
As Kristy and Katie have pointed out before me, there are currently a finite number of times that certain publishers will allow a library to lend out an e-book, putting libraries at the mercy of the publishers, the libraries forced to repurchase electronic copies once the maximum number (whatever it may be) is reached. Though the battle for access goes on, the publishers unfortunately seem to have the upper hand at this point.
With reduced budgets and millages, it is essential to invest in the right items for patrons. The difficulties of keeping up with technological advances will forevermore be an integral part of the role of the librarian and librarian professional. Change is the name of the game... when it comes to e-books and e-readers, it is essential for those in the library field to think about all that can be offered electronically and to strive to preserve and increase access to electronic reading material just as we must strive to preserve and increase access to our old standard bearers.
Source: Dorman, D. "The e-book: pipe dream or potential disaster?" American Libraries 30(2). Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25635325
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