Complications of Forging e-Book Deals Rob Kairis Library Director Kent State University at Stark

Why Me? Member of the OhioLINK Collection Building Task Force Natural born complainer I love the idea of e-Books, hate how they have been handled Happened to be in my office when the call came yesterday afternoon E-Book Complications … Consider this presentation … Less of a scholarly discussion and more the ranting of a frustrated librarian

Physics Print books exist physically while … e-Books do not You can own a print book … you sign perpetual licenses for e-Books Print books are bound by space and time (can only be in 1 place at one time, at a time) … e-Books can be in many places simultaneously E-Book Complications … Irony … The cost of eBooks is always based on the cost of print Cost = ListPrice X

Consortium issues (in case it wasn’t obvious) OhioLINK has a long history of sharing books (PCIRC) The circ vs ILL 60/40 rule is now the 40/60 rule As a result of cooperative collection development efforts (soft caps, GoBetween, etc.) libraries are more conscious of reducing print duplication E-Book Complications … Problem for consortia … Independent e-Books purchasing reverses years of cooperation

Consortium issues (in case it wasn’t obvious) As consortium members increase purchases of e-Books … There is less sharing … As consortium members share less … There is more duplication … As duplication increases across the consortium … The level of unique content decreases Kairis, R. (2012). A subject-based shared approval plan for consortia purchasing of U.S. university press books. Library Collections, Acquisitions, & Technical Services, 36(1/2), E-Book Complications …

Consortium complications Past purchasing history (of print): How many print copies were purchased in the consortium? Who pays? All institutions participate, or just the big guys? What is the correct multiplier for unlimited access? Should it be the same for every publisher? E-Book Complications … Problem for consortia … How does OhioLINK forge a cooperative e-Book deal?

OhioLINK’s Approach 1.Digital Collection. Content based on subject (LC classes) where a majority of print purchases were made E-Book Complications … LC CLASS PRINT SUMMARY DA – Great Britain DS-DT – Asia. Africa E-F – History of the Americas HB-HD – Economics HF-HJ – Business HM-HQ, HV – Sociology ML – Music

OhioLINK’s Approach 1.Digital Collection. Content based on subject (LC classes) where a majority of print purchases were made 2.eApproval Plan. Similar to #1 but more selective E-Book Complications … LC CLASS PRINT SUMMARY BL – Religion BP – Islam G-GV – Geography, Environmental Science, Anthropology, Recreation JC, JF, JK, JZ – Political Science PR – English Literature PS – American Literature

OhioLINK’s Approach 1.Digital Collection. Content based on subject (LC classes) where a majority of print purchases were made 2.eApproval Plan. Similar to #1 but more selective 3.Demand-Driven Acquisitions (DDA or PDA). Titles populated in library cataloged, purchased based on user activity E-Book Complications … Irony … Do we need collection development librarians?

If I ruled the world 1.Base costs on past history with each publisher (plus an access fee). Ensures publisher consistency. 2.Give the library access to EVERYTHING. 3.Allow the library to purchase selected items. Can be based on usage (DDA like) or selected by librarians, or both. The rest should be considered leased. E-Book Complications … Solution… Everyone gets what they want Problem… I don’t rule the world

Quesitons E-Book Complications …