No Shelf Required 2: Use and Management of Electronic Books

Citation

Alan, R. (2013), "No Shelf Required 2: Use and Management of Electronic Books", Collection Building, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 123-123. https://doi.org/10.1108/CB-04-2013-0015

Print books have been considered the foundation of many library collections. The significant increase in the number of e‐books published in recent years, combined with the emergence of new technologies such as the Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad, have created challenges as well as opportunities for libraries. While libraries have been the primary customers for e‐journal content, this is not always the case with e‐books, as users can easily download e‐books directly to their portable e‐reader devices, thus bypassing the library. The transition from print books to e‐books brings into question the current and future role of libraries. Licensing, discoverability, accessibility, e‐book readers and other technologies require libraries and content providers to re‐examine current service models.

No Shelf Required 2 is the sequel to No Shelf Required (published in 2011) and like the earlier volume fills an important need in the library community by effectively addressing a broad range of e‐book related issues. The editor states that the sequel “expands well beyond the boundaries of the first volume” and focuses on enhancing discoverability, accessibility, and use of e‐books to support a variety of educational programs.

The volume includes 16 chapters contributed by 22 authors representing all types of libraries, as well as vendors and faculty who offer a wide range of experience in managing and using e‐books. A central theme is the need for libraries to think “outside the box” and be proactive in developing new services for library users and alliances with content providers. There is discussion of the future of libraries as a space, a space traditionally considered a repository for print collections. The reduction and relocation of collections to offsite storage and increasing reliance on e‐content has allowed libraries to repurpose space as reflected in the increasing emphasis on development of information commons. Several authors discuss digital rights management (DRM) models used by publishers to protect revenue streams by placing limitations on excessive use. Other topics include licensing, accessibility compliance, preservation, weeding of e‐books, the new RDA cataloging rules, e‐reader technology, e‐reader loan programs, and a program to use e‐books to promote reading among reluctant second grade readers.

Editor Polanka concludes, “Librarians must be resilient, for as the pace of change continues to quicken, they need to manage – and not be managed by – e‐books and their progenies.” This volume brings together experts who not only identify issues but also propose solutions that benefit users and libraries. No Shelf Required 2 is highly recommended for librarians and staff in all types of libraries. As a supplement, Polanka maintains a blog, also called No Shelf Required, at http://noshelfrequired.com/