EBOOKS AND ELENDING A snapshot of the situation in Australian public libraries, first quarter 2013 ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee survey

EBOOKS ARE COMING 69% of public libraries lend ebooks Of the other 31%, almost all (95%) plan to do so within the next two years

DELAYED BY... Budget constraints 76% Technology issues 54% Licensing restrictions 39% Content inadequacies 32%

THEY ARE TINY RIGHT NOW In 99% of libraries with ebooks, they represent less than 5% of loans and in 72% of these libraries they account for less than 1%

WHO DO YOU CHOOSE? 67% of libraries can’t get what they need from one supplier

WHAT WE ARE MISSING Libraries are less than satisfied or not satisfied with the choice of: Bestsellers 79% Books by Australians65% Overall content59% Popular authors57%

FITTING OUR SYSTEMS While 55% of libraries can incorporate ebook titles in their catalogues, only 30% of libraries offer ebook downloads direct from the catalogue

LOANING HARDWARE Only 19% of libraries offering ebooks have ereaders for people to borrow

DO WE HAVE THE SKILLS? 39% of libraries say most or all of the library team are conversant with ebooks and ereaders 58% say some or a couple of members of the team are ebook/ereader conversant