A (surprisingly?) successful eBook story
Hugh MurphySenior Librarian,
Collection Management ServicesNUI Maynooth
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?
