Going Digital:The Challenges of e-Books in Law Libraries
LLAGNY Education ProgramJanuary 24, 2013
Bess ReynoldsTechnical Services ManagerDebevoise & Plimpton LLP
Presented by Bess Reynolds
What is an e-Book?
e-book, n.Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈiːbʊk/ , U.S. /ˈiˌbʊk/ Forms: 19– E-book, 19– e-book, 19– eBook, 19– ebook. Etymology: < e- comb. form+ book n.
A hand-held electronic device on which the text of a book can
be read. Also: a book whose text is available in an electronic format for reading on such a device or on a computer screen; (occas.) a book whose text is available only or primarily on the Internet.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary online
Presented by Bess Reynolds
•One book
•One device
•One reader
Original e-Book Model
Presented by Bess Reynolds
An e-Book
Presented by Bess Reynolds
And the Loose-leaf
Presented by Bess Reynolds
E-Books with DRM
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Just the Facts*
Of 85 law firm libraries:
– 10 are currently providing e-books (12%)
– 17 plan to purchase e-books within the next year (21%)
– 32 have tested e-books from legal publishers (38%)
– 23 know of lawyers using legal e-books (27%)
*Based on a survey of law firm librarians conducted in June 2012
Presented by Bess Reynolds
IN CASE YOU MISSED THAT:
Law firm libraries currently providing e-books to lawyers
Yes
No
Other
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Survey of Law Firms
Size of Participating Law Firms
0
10
20
30
40
50
Less than 200lawyers
200 – 499 lawyers
500 – 999lawyers
1,000 or morelawyers
Presented by Bess Reynolds
SURVEY DETAILS
More survey results can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/bpo5pqa
• Survey was conducted from June 10 – 29, 2012
• Librarians from 86 firms and one private law library in another business responded
• Some librarians did not answer all questions• 2 respondents did not give names
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Three Vendors
• Lexis Nexis– Purchase from the Lexis store or– Contract with Overdrive
• Thomson West– 7 steps to use Proview proprietary platform
• Wolters Kluwer– WK eReader is still under construction
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Lexis Digital Library
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Lexis e-Book
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Lexis and OverDrive
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Thomson Proview Platform
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Thomson Proview Sample Title
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Technical Services may be ready
Presented by Bess Reynolds
DESK BOOKS
26 Titles >
1,100 Copies >
2,100 Volumes!
(Every year)
Presented by Bess Reynolds
But are the Lawyers Ready?
• Pros:– Currency– Portability– Full text searching, bookmarks, links to
additional content• Cons:
– Cost– Licensing– Privacy– Proprietary platforms– Work habits
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Cartoon by Bess Reynolds
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Just in Time Not Just in Case
• Access not ownership
• Partnering with New York Law Institute to provide seamless access to an enhanced collection including 40,000+ e-books
Presented by Bess Reynolds
NYLI Integration = 1 Search Silo
Presented by Bess Reynolds
E-books Integrated in the OPAC
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Librarian Manifesto
• Libraries should own the e-books they purchase• Vendors should recognize the role that librarians play
in collection development, acquisitions & distribution• Vendors should work to simplify the procedures for
obtaining and managing e-books• Legal publishers should work with ILS vendors to
make the e-books available directly in the OPAC, eliminating the need for multiple silos of discovery
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Selected Resources
• “An open letter about ebooks and Douglas County Libraries.” Douglas County Libraries. Web. 24 Jan. 2013 <http://douglascountylibraries.org/content/ebooks-and-DCL>
• Comparison of e-book formats. Wikipedia. Web accessed 1/24/2013: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats>
• Kelly, Michael. "Top Ebook Distributors, ILS Vendors to Have Sitdown With ReadersFirst Library Coalition." The Digital Shift. 3 Jan 2013. The Library Journal. 24 Jan 2013. <http://tinyurl.com/b94nvuv>.
• Reynolds, Bess. “The Challenges of e-books in Law Firm Libraries.” The New Librarian, AALL-ILTA White Paper: <http://read.uberflip.com/i/87421/64 >
• Various articles about Douglas County Libraries. Evoke. 24 Jan. 2013. <http://evoke.cvlsites.org/>
Presented by Bess Reynolds
Thank You
Contact me:[email protected]
Follow me on Twitter:@bibliobess
(Personal tweets, my opinions, not related to my POW)
