Library E-Book Vendor Discovery #ebooks

I am attempting to gather all of the library vendors that provide e-books. This is a preliminary list of new and established vendors. I've added some brief commentary on those that I have tried. If you know of any that should be included that I have missed, please add them in the comments and I will move it into this post.

Overdrive

http://www.overdrive.com/#1

The big daddy of library e-books. I've used them in libraries off and on since 2007. They are by far my favorite, have provided the best collections, and have evolved with library demand. (Examples, used to be no iPods, that changed, used to be no Kindles, that will change).

NetLibrary

http://www.netlibrary.com/Default.aspx

I haven't used this product, but will probably establish a trial shortly.  

Recorded Books One Click Digital

http://www.oneclickaudio.com/

I haven't used this product, but will probably establish a trial shortly. Per Sharon K's observation, Recorded Books is downloadable audiobooks only. 

Ingram MyILibrary

http://www.ingramdigital.com/libraries/

I've used the e-book and downloadable audiobooks. At the time, the e-book didn't allow transfer to devices, which is a big deal for me. My library currently subscribes to the downloadable audio and the stats have been through the roof. It beats Overdrive on the price of the service, and the audio is device agnostic. However, there are some indications that the audiobook portion of the MyILibrary may not continue.  

Gale Virtual Reference Library

http://www.gale.cengage.com/servlet/GvrlMS?msg=ma

Will start using this service next month. Mostly Gale Encylopedias and general reference books placed on the web, downloadable as pdf (either by page, chapter, or entire book) and no Digital Rights Management on the books. 

3M Cloud Library

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MLibrarySystems/Home/SolutionsAndTechnologies/E-BookLendingService/

Completely new service, I am attempting to set up a trial, but I'm sure so is everyone else. Only thing I have read about it in depth is this post, 3M's eBook Cloud Library Didn't Come Out of Nowhere. (The txr page may be what it will look like?)


Recommended by Steven Harris, Director of Collections and Acquisitions Services at University of New Mexico:
Safari Books Online
Books 24X7
EBL
Ebrary 

Recommended by Greg Schwartz, Library Systems Manager Louisville Free Public Library:
Baker and Taylor Axis 360

That's all I have so far. I'm not including any free e-book sites like Project Gutenberg since I am looking for e-book vendors that provide new content from major publishers to libraries. Is there anything I am missing?

Job in a Box Unveiled

I’m happy to announce the expansion of our book machine programs using the Brodart Lending Library. This post will describe our latest venture and also update our Cutler machine.

Through a new California State Library Program called Pitch an idea, we pitched placing a book machine in two Workforce Investment Board One Stops. These One Stops are places where the unemployed can get job assistance that includes anything including job searching, computer time, job coaching, training, and even job placement.  I am currently on their Employment Connection board for about six months and we have been searching for a way to collaborate to help the unemployed. Tulare County has a 19% unemployment, one of the worst in California, and is one of the most stressed counties in the nation. Any way in which we could collaborate can only help our citizens.

Each machine will carry 300 books with multiple copies focusing on workforce materials, GED Testing, ASVAB, Resume Writing, Cover letter, and career searching. All the materials included in the machines were selected by a group of WIB staff, library staff, and library circulation statistics. There are about 11 different books in the machine and we will receive advice from job coaches on how to adjust the collection to meet their customer’s needs. We have also held cross training with both WIB and Library staff to make both sides more aware of available options for job seekers in the community.  Overall, the program implementation cost about $60,000 for two book machines, two book drops, 600 books, and a paid motivational speaker. 

One of the interesting quirks is that job seekers that do not have a library card can get one from WIB staff. Those interested can get an application and a card, with those applications being sent into the local branch, checked for duplication, and entered into the system. A person can walk in and check-out those books even though they haven’t had a card with us before. We also conducted a pre-survey on library usage by WIB customers and found that many did not realize the library's job resources. Only 18% of participants found that the library was place to receive job assistance, whereas 73% saw us as a place for books, and 21% for computers. Part of this program will work to change that perception and work hand in hand with WIB to integrate the library into the job searching process. 

We also hosted a nationally recognized motivational speaker Paul Clayton speak to WIB customers in Visalia and Dinuba and unveiled the job in a box program.

I would say overall, that the Cutler book machine is getting more usage and will probably continue to do so since it is a less targeted market. Providing picture books to kids just getting out of school is just as easy as if we had an ice cream truck out there. Providing assistance to job seekers who may be frustrated and not sure what to do is a bit harder.  

So far, the Cutler machine averages between 350 and 750 check-out per month. The machine made it through frost, heavy storms and wind, and a variety of other weather and still works. It actually out circs about three of our smaller rural branches and it may be the start of a new level of service to complement our bookmobile services.  We plan to investigate more targeted book collections like this in the future and hope to see what that will bring in new library services. 

Alternative Funding for Libraries #calibconf California Library Association Conference presentation 2010

Alternative Funding for Libraries #calibconf California Library Association Conference presentation 2010

View more presentations from Jeff Scott.

Cutler Lending Library Unveiled

After over a year's worth of work, our Lending Library was officially unveiled yesterday. It was part of a USDA Rural Development grant (also part of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), a $100,000 project. This is one of the projects I spoke about at Internet Librarian, and I will further discuss at the California Library Association Conference in November of this year.



The product is called the Brodart Lending Library. We selected this machine because it was cheaper and easier to use than other machines. In particular, the Library-go-go machine is $140,000 to implement fully and you need a Swedish team to come out to install and deal with any technical issues. The Brodart library is created and maintained in the United States and can be accessed remotely by cell tower. The product is only $17,000. We paid an additional $10,000 to custom build this machine so that it did not require internet access. The rest was for the bookdrop, books, and  building the housing to protect the machine. Information is stored locally on the machine, with a branch librarian coming out weekly to get the information and re-stock the machine. It's as easy to use as a candy machine, and you just need to know the number of the book you want and have a library card; it's that simple.

I am especially proud of our staff for getting all this together. It took a year of planning, but just like cooking, most of the action is in the last moments. We paid for the machine and had it custom built.We had to contact the Cutler Public Utility District to get permission to build a structure on their grounds to house the machine. It took coordination from our Public Works, the Utility Office, canvassing the schools and businesses, and working with Brodart to get all the technical requirements correct to go live. It all worked beautifully. It was also a wonderful location since it was right across the street from the school and it sits in between the school and the way home for the kids.

When I got out there yesterday there were kids streaming in from everywhere excited about the machine. We had about 300 kids at the event and we signed up 200 of them for new library cards. It's wonderful to see the heavy use considering this area where 60% of the population does not have a high school education and 80% are mono-lingual Spanish speakers. We had kids running up and asking about it, then running to our bookmobile to get library cards and then coming back. We had a whole row of books gone in under an hour!
UPDATE!! After one day's use, the book machine is now empty. That's 300 books gone in one day!
UPDATE 2!! After one week, it looks like we will have to restock the machine three times a week. We've restocked it three times and it is empty the next day. Today the book return was full!!!