Literacy news
UK government discusses lending ebooks in libraries
27 Sep 2012
Publisher William Sieghart will lead a review of e-lending in libraries with a panel of experts, due to report back in the new year. Culture Minister Ed Valzey requested the panel.
Mr. Valzey says e-lending might “help transform the way people use libraries” and also hopes that acting now will maximize the benefits of e-lending for libraries, authors, publishers and the public.
Many UK libraries hold out on lending ebooks, although some already lend the new media form.
Despite several agreed-upon benefits of ebooks in libraries, how ebooks are used in libraries is difficult to nail down. Many issues with lending ebooks need to be reconciled, such as how to remunerate authors and publishers, current and future levels of ebook demand, and the effects of this change on people who do not or cannot keep up with technology growth.
Janene Cox, one of the review panellists and president of the Society of Chief Librarians, says ebooks would generate new audiences in libraries, and also believes ebooks will “complement and enhance”, rather than replace, printed resources.
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