era for ebooks

eRA for eBooks?

Taking Reader’s Advisory into the

eBook Age

What is Reader’s Advisory?

• “A patron-centered library service for adult leisure readers. A successful readers’ advisory service is one in which knowledgeable, nonjudgmental staff help fiction and nonfiction readers with their leisure-reading needs.”– Joyce Saricks, Readers’ Advisory Service in

the Public Library, 3rd edition (2005)

Why should I care?

• “No one in my town is interested in ebooks.”

• “They’re never available on WILBOR/NEIBORS.”

• “I don’t have an ereader.”

• “They’re too complicated.”

Ebook Sales

• Source: International Digital Publishing Forum - http://www.idpf.org/doc_library/industrystats.htm

Ebook Pros

• Experimental writing and stories

• Portability (depending on reading device)

• Text size adjustability (depending on device)

• Others?

Cons of Ebooks

• Technical investment

• Can only read for as long as the battery lasts

• Digital Rights Management (DRM) – but depends on the publisher

• Others?

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT READER TO BUY?

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Questions to ask

• Do you want to be able to borrow books from the library?

• Do you want to be able to do more than read books on it?

• Do you want full color illustrations (if available)?

Lending of ereaders

• Terms of service

• Collection development

• Financial investment

RA Appeal Factors

• Pacing, Characterization, Emotional Impact, etc.

• “Format” – Large print substitute?

• Covers

Title Awareness

• Traditional review sources

• NetGalley

• Niche review sources– Print– Online

• Patrons!

Marketing

• Why market?

• How to market

Why should I care?

• Know your collection

• Be aware of current trends

• eBooks are still books, and to many, the library is books

One last thought

• “I feel like a big part of my role over the next 30 years of library leadership is going to be directed toward helping this transition occur—providing patrons with experiences and opportunities to make the leap from the page to the device.”– Brian Matthews, The Ubiquitous Librarian

(blog), January 18, 2011

Photo credits

• eBook Reader by goXunuReviews - http://www.flickr.com/photos/43602175@N06/4070018828/

• Reader's Advisory Shelf, 2005 by hcplebranch - http://www.flickr.com/photos/hcplebranch/978619164/

• Girl Reading A Book by This Is A Wake Up Call - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisawakeupcall/274938224/