E-content in Libraries

The furor over e-book lending in libraries has calmed. Satisfactory business models, however, remain elusive. Sue Polanka, academic librarian and creator of the No Shelf Required website, has been tracking this complex marketplace from its beginnings. In this issue of Library Technology Reports she gathers the perspectives of a public librarian and two information industry executives who share concerns and offer ideas for working together. Inside: Joseph Sanchez delves into how publishers shift toward digital formats will affect public library budgets Matt Dunie describes cost structures and pricing strategies; and Michael Zeoli calls for a collaborative approach to meeting three challenges: isolationism, content availability, and partnerships.