E-Readers

Previously on...

In our last post, we discussed digital rights management. We now move to e-readers and e-books, which, in spite of problems with DRM, are becoming more and more popular.

So what are e-readers?

E-readers are small electronic devices that store and display digital copies of books. Users download e-books for their e-readers from places like Amazon.com, or the local library.

E-readers save space and are ideal for users who do not have an abundance of shelf space. E-reader applications are also available (often for free) for computers and iPods. Libraries have begun to offer e-books, using systems like Overdrive.

How does this relate to special libraries?

E-Readers are becoming increasingly important in special libraries. In law libraries, eBooks are a rarity. However, Westlaw has recently begun offering a handful of textbooks and other materials in e-book form. This could be very helpful for academic law libraries; instead of housing a copy of every textbook used in the school, the library could keep them in a digital collection. Other law libraries could save on shelf space by storing the legislative codes of various states in digital format.

Law libraries aren't the only libraries that need to save on shelf space. Storage is a problem for art libraries and medical libraries as well. At MiraCosta College, a number of art books are available for download. Additionally, a recent survey of medical school faculty found that 35.46% of respondents wanted to increase the use of e-books in their university's medical library.

Want more information?

Look at this review of e-readers and how often they're actually used before you decide to buy one.

Click to see a slideshow about e-readers and their use in law libraries.

Check out this blog about e-readers and their value in law libraries.