eBooks: Access, Technology, & Licensing

Against the Grain Volume 23 | Issue 5 Article 8 November 2011 eBooks: Access, Technology, & Licensing Lisa Carlucci Thomas Design Think Do, Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/atg Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation Thomas, Lisa Carlucci (2011) "eBooks: Access, Technology, & Licensing," Against the Grain: Vol. 23: Iss. 5, Article 8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/2380-176X.5982 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact for additional information. eBooks: Access, Technology, & Licensing by Lisa Carlucci Thomas (Director, Design Think Do) <> Introduction Access In fewer than five years, since the release of the Amazon Kindle and Apple iPhone, the popularity and adoption of eBooks and e-reading devices has soared. Amazon’s first-generation Kindle offered immediate access to over 90,000 eBooks in the Amazon store, immediate wireless delivery to any Amazon customer, and all in a lightweight, portable, e-ink-equipped device. The Kindle caught on quickly; it was backed by the reliable Amazon brand, and it captured the interest of mainstream readers by including many current bestsellers among its offerings. Likewise, the Apple iPhone was a technological and culture-changing marvel. The iPhone extended the device functionality of the increasingly ubiquitous mobile phone to include a pocket-sized suite of computing options, and presented new opportunities for e-reading via mobile applications and the Safari Internet browser. Currently, Pew Internet Research reports that “the share of adults in the United States who own an eBook reader has reached double digits” for the first time since their research on the subject began. More astounding is the growth factor: e-reader adoption reached 12% in May 2011, up from 6% in November 2010. In just half a year, twice as many people owned e-readers (Purcell 2011). Pew’s research also indicates that mobile phones hold a strong lead in the device market, with cell phones of all types at 83% adoption. The percentage of smartphones among this figure isn’t noted. However, it is clear that overall ownership of e-reading capable devices, from dedicated e-readers to smartphones, is growing rapidly and driving eBook market momentum. In 2009, my study on mobile access to eBooks at the Yale University Library was the first of its kind to examine access to library-licensed eBooks via mobile devices and e-readers. The results of the study highlighted the complications of file and device compatibility, and ultimately identified the Apple iPhone as the leading eBook access device compared to three other devices, including the Amazon Kindle (Thomas 2009). Since 2009, much has changed: mobile applications for e-reading have proliferated, new devices like the Nook and the Kobo hit the scene, tablets such as the Apple iPad have become popular, and both the iPhone and the Kindle released next generation devices with expanded functionality. Yet, the matter of access remains paramount and significantly unresolved, as publishers, vendors, and libraries struggle to decide how best to deliver eBooks to an eager community of readers, while ensuring the rights and profits of stakeholders are adequately maintained. When HarperCollins announced in February 2011 that eBooks purchased by libraries would be limited to 26 circulations per license, they immediately encountered a vociferous negative response from librarians. Many were outraged that HarperCollins would unilaterally make such a decision, especially at a time when libraries are already weathering the conflict of reduced budgets and the hefty costs of e-resources. Librarians Sarah Houghton-Jan and Andy Woodworth drafted “The eBook User’s Bill of Rights,” (Houghton-Jan 2011), which outlines primary terms of use that eBook readers should reasonably expect in this evolving market. Of particular note are the consideration of the long-term impact of the changes taking place now and the appeal to readers and book industry partners to promote constructive policies: “I am concerned about the future of access to literature and information in eBooks. I ask readers, authors, publishers, retailers, librarians, software developers, and device manufacturers to support these eBook users’ rights” (http:// librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2011/02/ ebookrights.html). Indeed, policy decisions being made now, in the nascent age of mainstream eBooks, must be developed with extra care and creativity, rather than reaction and anxiety. The technological and cultural convergence taking place predicates an uncertain future for books, libraries, and readers. A clear articulation of the values and rights extended to readers, parallel in form to those in the print environment, is imperative when evaluating and negotiating new eBook licenses; as such, licenses will continue to evolve in conjunction with the advancing electronic environment. Moving Forward ... from page 26 Works Cited Bosch, Stephen. Is Selection Dead? The Rise of Collection Management and the Twilight of Selection. ALCTS-CMDS Presentation. American Library Association MidWinter Meeting, San Diego California. January 9, 2011 Pollard, Marvin. Five Minutes vs. Five Days: How Important is This to Your Patrons? Sixth annual SCELC Colloquium Presentation, Loyola Marymount University. March 2, 2011. Additional responses to the HarperCollins eBook circulation limit included a boycott of HarperCollins products until the circulation cap is reversed (http://boycottharpercollins. com), critical reaction from the blogging community, such as Bobbi Newman (Newman 2011), Jason Griffey (Griffey 2011), Eric Hellman (Hellman March 11, 2011) and more, and the creation of the http://readersbillofrights.info Website by librarian Alycia Sellie and Matthew Goins, advocating “Librarians Against DRM.” Advocacy against digital rights management software (DRM), circulation caps, lending limitations, and restrictive policies ensures that information about how these rules will affect libraries’ eBook collections is being delivered. This is especially important at a time when so much is changing so very rapidly. It can be difficult for even the most knowledgeable information professional to monitor and assess the newest changes day-by-day, let alone craft an informed, evaluative statement to post on a blog or publish in an article. As it is, librarians have their hands full navigating through myriad, confusing, and sometimes contradictory licensing agreements for eBooks and e-content. Putting aside issues of cost and budget, as well as the related decisions about what to keep in what format and how to archive it all, purchasing eBooks is anything but straightforward. Furthermore, there is insufficient training available on how to manage the eBook decision points and how to routinely assess these collections over time. Considerations range among (...truncated)