A (surprisingly?) successful e-book story

A (surprisingly?) successful eBook story

Hugh MurphySenior Librarian,

Collection Management ServicesNUI Maynooth

hugh.murphy@nuim.ie

I will be talking about this...

I will not be talking about this

Nice story / Hard questions

• WHAT WE DID

• WHY WE DID IT

• HOW WE DID IT

• HOW IT WENT

• DID IT WORK?

• WHATS THE GAIN?

• WHATS THE COST?

• WHY DID IT WORK?!

WHAT WE DID

• Two programmes

• Two loan periods

• Two different aims

WHY WE DID IT

• Tipping point • Proof of concept? • Because we could / should?

It’s easy to get carried away..“By the turn of the century, paper will satisfy less than 5 percent of the total commerce in information.

Although education and entertainment have their own migratory paths and rates, the objective will be the same: paper is going to be replaced with electronic media”

(Kounta, J. (1992). Tomorrow’s libraries: More than a modular telephone jack, less than a complete revolution - Perspectives of a provocateur. Library Hi-Tech, 10(4), 39-50.

1992, p. 39)

…but haven't we reached tipping point?

WHY WE DID IT

• Tipping point • Proof of concept? • Because we could / should?

HOW WE DID IT (1)

LIBRARY WIDE

INVOLVEMENT

HOW WE DID IT (2)[NUTS AND BOLTS]

• 10 kindles for general, 10 for English• Library Staff usage• Free general books• List of titles submitted to Library• Incentivised in pilot – no fees• Catalogue records

HOW IT WENT

• c100 titles uploaded• Time consuming• Licensing restrictions• Security restrictions• Strong marketing campaign

DID IT WORK

• Validated our communication model• 90% ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’• 94% would borrow again• Repeat and increased business from

academics• Devices always on loan

WHAT’S THE GAIN?

• Give users what [we think] they want

• Increased traction with academic departments

• Staff views on technology opened up and challenged

• Library seen as innovative

WE HAVE KINDLES –

WE ARE COOL!!

WHAT’S THE COST?

• Time• Labour • Financial• Creates unsustainable

demand?

• Senior Librarian gets murdered in his sleep..

WHY DID IT WORK?

• Inherent merits of Kindle• Appropriate ‘intermediary’ step• Obvious benefits• Support of academic colleagues• Enthusiasm of staff• Just got lucky?

Thank you!Go raibh maith agat!

hugh.murphy@nuim.ie@hughtweet