eBooks for Consumers
eBooks for individual consumers are sold via a device. Although media specialists are exploring the world of eReaders and adding them to their collections, the eReader world and eBooks are still geared mainly toward individual consumers not libraries. A few example providers for consumers include:
Barnes & Noble via the Nook
Amazon via the Kindle
iBooks (an app) via iPad
Reader Store via the Sony Reader
Google eBookstore: compatible with all eReaders but Kindle.
These providers do provide a modest selection of free eBooks and DRM (for the most part) prevents "lending" or sharing of these books across devices. Barnes&Noble permits some lending. However, ONLY certain books can be loaned (B&N gets to decide which ones--not you) and you can only loan once and only to other Nook owners.
Amazon is also introducing "lending", but again only from their library and there seems to be some strings attached.
FREE eBOOK PROVIDERS: There are many DRM free eBook providers, but again, if you wish to download to your eReader, you must know the FORMAT your reader accepts. Here are two examples of free eBook providers.
Inkmesh
Project Gutenburg
Barnes & Noble via the Nook
Amazon via the Kindle
iBooks (an app) via iPad
Reader Store via the Sony Reader
Google eBookstore: compatible with all eReaders but Kindle.
These providers do provide a modest selection of free eBooks and DRM (for the most part) prevents "lending" or sharing of these books across devices. Barnes&Noble permits some lending. However, ONLY certain books can be loaned (B&N gets to decide which ones--not you) and you can only loan once and only to other Nook owners.
Amazon is also introducing "lending", but again only from their library and there seems to be some strings attached.
FREE eBOOK PROVIDERS: There are many DRM free eBook providers, but again, if you wish to download to your eReader, you must know the FORMAT your reader accepts. Here are two examples of free eBook providers.
Inkmesh
Project Gutenburg
eBooks for School Libraries
If you don't choose to purchase eReaders for your library, there are some eBooks provider platforms for school and public libraries. The main providers are:
Overdrive: Overdrive is the leading provider of digital books for school and public libraries. They also provide audio books. Overdrive is typically purchased at the district level as cost can be prohibitive for individual schools. Students do not need an eReader to "check out" a book, but they do need a computer. Students can download books directly to their Kindle, but they will need a USB with other devices. Students can also download audio books to their mp3's or iPods. Greenville County Schools use Overdrive as does the Greenville and Pickens County libraries. When a student "checks out" a book (for the 2 week loan period) it is unavailable to other patrons. In Greenville County, students may check out a book for two weeks.
Ebrary: Ebrary does not download eBooks to a device, thus they can offer multiple patron access to its titles.
Follett Shelf: Also does not permit downloading books to a device.
Axis 360 by Baker and Taylor: One of the newest players in providing libraries with eBooks.
NetLibrary: is from OCLC an is geared toward academic and corporate libraries.
Overdrive: Overdrive is the leading provider of digital books for school and public libraries. They also provide audio books. Overdrive is typically purchased at the district level as cost can be prohibitive for individual schools. Students do not need an eReader to "check out" a book, but they do need a computer. Students can download books directly to their Kindle, but they will need a USB with other devices. Students can also download audio books to their mp3's or iPods. Greenville County Schools use Overdrive as does the Greenville and Pickens County libraries. When a student "checks out" a book (for the 2 week loan period) it is unavailable to other patrons. In Greenville County, students may check out a book for two weeks.
Ebrary: Ebrary does not download eBooks to a device, thus they can offer multiple patron access to its titles.
Follett Shelf: Also does not permit downloading books to a device.
Axis 360 by Baker and Taylor: One of the newest players in providing libraries with eBooks.
NetLibrary: is from OCLC an is geared toward academic and corporate libraries.
A word about selection...
Choosing an eBook provider platform does limit the media specialist's role in selection. In theory, the media specialist can submit requests for titles to be added to the eBook collection. However, often times titles are added without any input. Any service that adds to the collection without input from the media specialist should be monitored closely.