E-books in libraries : a practical guide

E-books are finally firmly on the acquisition list of library and information services, and raising difficult questions for librarians about their purchase, operation and use.

This important new book is the first to explore e-books and their use from the perspective of the librarian.

Written by two experts, the book opens with an exploration of the definitions of e-books and the genesis of the format.

Trends in contemporary publishing of e-books are explored to determine the characteristics of academic, reference and fiction publishing.

The practical issues surrounding provision and use of e-books in all types of libraries are covered in depth, including bibliographic control and collection management.

The book concludes with a consideration of the potential developments and challenges in e-book publishing and provision.

Essential reading for librarians struggling with e-books across all types of libraries, this book will also be of great interest to publishers, and students and researchers studying the topic.