Results of State Library eBook Task

Force Survey

Statewide eBook SymposiumFebruary 28, 2014

Responses (98) received from:◦ Public Libraries (70%)◦ Elementary School Libraries (3%)◦ Middle School Libraries (2%)◦ High School Libraries (9%)◦ Academic Libraries (11%)◦ Other (5%)

State Courthouse Law Library System Social Library Private Library PreK-12 Libraries (2)

Who Responded

Populations/Areas Servedby Responding Libraries Populations Served:

◦ Less than 10,000 (47%)

◦ 10,000-24,999 (25%)◦ 25,000-49,999 (16%)

Areas Served:◦ Suburban (58%)◦ Rural (22.5%)◦ Urban (19.5%)

OverDrive (76%) EBSCO (17%) Baker & Taylor (8%) 3M (3%) Other vendors: Freading, Ebrary, Recorded Books,

FolletShelf, Gale, Oxford University Press, ProjectMUSE, Cambridge, Springer, Wiley, Project Gutenberg, Credo, EBL, Yankee Book Peddler, Ingram/Coutts, ASHP, Science Direct, McGraw Hill, R2 Library, USP-NF, STAT-Ref, Amazon, Marshal Cavendish, Davidson, Nook Books, Facts on File, Salem Press, ACLS Humanities, Rosen, Questia, and Books 24x7

Vendors

Most libraries have had access to eBooks for:◦ 1-3 years (63%)◦ 4-6 years (17%)◦ Over 6 years (12%)◦ Less than one year (8%)

Size of Collections:◦ 5,000 or more eBooks (32%)◦ 2,500-4,999 (24%)◦ 1,000-2,499 (21%)

Access to eBooks

Patrons are using:◦ Dedicated eReaders (63%)◦ Tablets (62%)◦ Smartphones (35%)◦ Computers (35%)

Libraries are lending eReaders:◦ To take home (43%)◦ In library use (5%)

eReaders

Types of eReaders in Use:◦ Kindle eInk (68%)◦ Nook eInk (49%)◦ Kindle Fire Tablet (38%)◦ iPad/iPad Mini (35%)◦ Nook Tablet (35%)

No. of eReaders in Use:◦ 6-15 eReaders (49%)◦ 5 or fewer eReaders (49%)

eReaders Cont.

Libraries lending eReaders preloaded with eBooks (64%)

Libraries permitting borrowers to download books themselves (8%)

Combination of above two scenarios (28%) Most libraries do not plan to acquire more

eReaders next year (73%) Others plan to acquire more tablets (15%),

replace broken devices (12%) or acquire more dedicated eReaders (10%)

eReaders: To Load or Not to Load

Discoverability:◦ eBooks are discoverable in most catalogs (69%)

Holds-to-Copy Ratios◦ Many libraries do not have a holds-to-copy ratio

for eBooks (61%)◦ For libraries with holds-to-copy ratios, the ratios

are: 7:1 (13%) 5:1 (13%) 3:1 (5.5%) 8:1 (2%) 2:1 (2%)

Discoverability/Holds-to-Copy Ratios

Since this time last year, eBook demand has:◦ Greatly increased (33%)◦ Slightly increased (51%)◦ Not changed (13%)

In the current fiscal year, libraries believe eBook usage will:◦ Increase (77.5%)◦ Remain the same (22.5%)

Demand for eBooks

Demand for eBooks is measured by most libraries (88%):◦ Statistically (74%)◦ Anecdotally (26%)

Percentage of circulation attributable to eBooks:◦ Mostly up to 10 percent (73%)◦ 11-25 percent (5%)

Demand for eBooks Cont.

In current fiscal year, library budgets for eBooks have:◦ Remained the same (47%)◦ Increased (41%)◦ Decreased (5%)

In last fiscal year, approximate percentage of materials budgets attributable to eBooks was:◦ 1-5% (59%)◦ 6-10% (23%)◦ 11-15% (5%)◦ More than 15% (3%)

eBook Budgets

Approximate percentage of current materials budgets attributable to eBooks is:◦ 1-5% (62%)◦ 6-10% (23%)◦ 11-15% (5%)◦ More than 15% (4%)

Libraries predict that in 5 years, approximate percentage of materials budgets attributable to eBooks will be:◦ 1-5% (24%)◦ 6-10% (35%)◦ 11-15% (19%)◦ More than 15% (19%)

eBook Budgets Cont.

In current fiscal year, libraries expect to spend on eBooks:◦ $1,000-$4,999 (36%)◦ Less than $1,000 (17%)◦ $10,000-$14,999 (10%)◦ $5,000-$9,999 (8%)◦ $30,000 or more (6%)

50% of libraries have reallocated funds from other areas of budget to pay for eBooks; 50% have not reallocated funds

eBook Budgets Cont.

In a perfect world, preferred methods of access for eBooks would be:◦ Downloaded with unlimited simultaneous access

(68%)◦ Web-based access with unlimited simultaneous

access (67%)◦ Downloaded with purchase of set number of CKOs

that can be used simultaneously (12.5%)◦ Web-based access with purchase of set number of

CKOs that can be used simultaneously (11.5%)

Access/Licensing Terms

Types of purchasing/licensing terms typically received by libraries when acquiring eBooks are:◦ Purchase with perpetual access (58%)◦ License with set number of CKOs (38%)◦ Subscription (36%)◦ Simultaneous use/access (32%)◦ Purchase with perpetual access through self-

hosting (15%)◦ Pay per use (10%)

Access/Licensing Cont.

Libraries currently offer borrowers:◦ General adult nonfiction (87%)◦ General adult fiction (77%)◦ Young adult fiction (68%)◦ Children’s fiction (68%)◦ Young adult nonfiction (60%)◦ Children’s nonfiction (52%)◦ Reference (38%)◦ Children’s picture books (33%)◦ Foreign language (24%)◦ Other: scholarly books, academic books,

educational books, and textbooks

Categories of eBooks Offered

Top three fiction categories:◦ Adult bestsellers (76%)◦ Adult general fiction (61%)◦ Adult mystery (47%)

Top three nonfiction categories:◦ Adult bestsellers (61%)◦ Adult biography/memoirs (45%)◦ Adult history (25%)

Top Three Most Requested Fiction/ Nonfiction eBook Categories

eBooks are promoted primarily:◦ On library websites (96%)◦ Signage in library (68%)◦ Word of mouth (61%)◦ Newsletters (55%)◦ Flyers (55%)◦ Social media (54%)

eBook Promotion by Libraries

The most common things that keep patrons from reading library eBooks:◦ Limited titles available (70%)◦ Long wait times (64%)◦ Popular titles not available (61%)◦ Complex downloading process (47%)◦ Patrons unaware of eBook availability at library

(44%)

Hindrances that Keep Patrons from Reading Library’s eBooks

Concerns Expressed:◦ “Library does not offer an eBook version of the title I want to

borrow”: Rarely (39%), Never (22%), Weekly (19%), Monthly (17%)

◦ “Wait time to borrow eBooks at my library is too long”: Never (28%), Rarely (27%), Weekly (23%), Monthly (17%)

◦ “I need help downloading eBooks to my device”: Weekly (36%), Monthly (19%), Rarely (16%), Never (15%), Daily (15%)

◦ “I am not a Town resident. Why can’t I borrow eBooks from your library?”: Never (36%), Rarely (26%), Weekly (19%), Monthly (18%)

These patron concerns are tracked anecdotally (96%) or statistically (4%)

Frequency and Tracking ofPatron Concerns about eBooks

Reasons why seven respondent libraries do not offer eBooks:◦ No money for eBooks (71%)◦ Lack of technical support available from library

staff (43%)◦ Waiting to see what the best platform will be

(43%)◦ No demand from users for eBooks (14%)◦ Library is in process of adding eBooks (14%)◦ Current eBook models are at odds with library

principles/philosophy (14%)

Info from Libraries thatDo Not Offer eBooks

Plans for eBook purchases in next two years for libraries that do not currently offer eBooks:◦ May purchase eBooks but it is not a priority (83%)◦ eBooks will definitely be purchased (17%)◦ eBooks will definitely NOT be purchased (0%)

Info from Libraries thatDo Not Offer eBooks Cont.

Price (84%) Availability of titles (79%) Difficulty in accessing/downloading (58%) Lack of expertise among library staff (36%) Lack of support from vendor (12%)

eBook Issues Shared by Libraries

Demand for eBooks will continue to increase (see Demand for eBooks above)

Library budgets for eBooks will continue to increase (see eBook Budgets above)

Greatest challenges faced by libraries concerning eBooks:◦ Price◦ Availability of titles◦ Complex downloading process◦ Lack of expertise among staff◦ Lack of support from vendor

Conclusions

Mary Anne Mendola FrancoHead of Network ServicesWilton Library Association, Inc.137 Old Ridgefield RoadWilton, CT 06897-3000203-762-3950, Ext. 210mamfranco@wiltonlibrary.orgwww.wiltonlibrary.orgFollow us on Twitter: @wiltonlibraryLike us on Facebook: Wilton Library Association

Thank you! Questions?