Hello everyone,

Compiled below is feedback regarding e-book providers:

EBSCO’s Discovery Service

Pros:  Subscription data base model, customizable to specific curriculum, simultaneous multi-user access of an e-book, Google-like search process, ebook chapters appear in standard search results list, variety of licensing options (choose from collections and individual titles).

Cons: Subscribers are “renters” and do not own titles.

Overdrive

Pros: Price ($3000 half of which is a credit to pick a la carte), public libraries use it (user familiarity). 

Cons: Access is dependent on the title/publisher

Mackin Via

Pros: Provides free e-books with purchase.

Cons: None given

Gale

Pros: Simultaneous users, Reference titles comparable pricing to print

Cons: None given

Follett

Pros: More items for less money

Cons: single user, access is dependent on the title/publisher

Salem

Pros: simultaneous users, non-fiction comparable pricing to print

Cons: None given

Brainhive

Pros: $1 per checkout, not paying for books that aren't being used.

Cons: None given

Other

Cons: Libraries using more than one of the above report the biggest problem is managing a variety of different interfaces or “access points, including using different readers on personal devices.” But reports are that this is the best way to get a variety of titles and meet all patron needs.

Hope this helps,

Dawn M. Zillich, librarian

St. Paul Catholic High School

High School Nutmeg 2016 Book Selection Committee member

Penguin Debut Author Program First Flights Participant www.earlyword.com/firstflights