E-Book Dilemma

Today’s e-book market for libraries is vaguely reminiscent of the internet before Google–content with little standardization.  Many of us have seen emails and surveys from vendors asking for library input into their e-book products, and some of us have met with vendors to discuss e-book access, circulation, platforms, and general library interest.  The problem is providing a profitable product that meets library purchasing and circulation needs as well as compatibility with the wide variety of electronic devices that will be used for access.  This post by Greg Lambert at 3 Geeks and a Law Blog, http://www.geeklawblog.com/2012/12/vendors-want-e-books-in-firms-put-them.html and its accompanying comments address some of the problems with e-book purchases for libraries and some possible solutions. In the comments, Tracy Thompson-Przylucki references NISO’s e-book section.  Interested parties may want to visit NISO’s web site at http://www.niso.org/topics/ebooksig for more information on this.