Electronic books: a call for effective business models
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assert that, in an effort to more effectively match users' needs to purchases and extend the buying power of library budgets for e‐books, libraries should use a profiled purchase on demand option to supplement their current practices.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews usage patterns for print and e‐books, business models for e‐books and comments on the benefits of using a patron‐driven acquisitions model.
Findings
Circulation of the print collection is slowly declining, with only 20 per cent of the collection circulating in 2009. Large purchased collections of e‐books statistics are roughly the same but those purchased through Patron‐Driven Acquisitions are assured use.
Originality/value
The discussion of current business models for e‐books illustrates some challenges libraries face in transitioning from print to electronic. Patron‐driven models allow libraries to help users at point of need and manage scarce resources.
Keywords
Citation
Schroeder, R. and Wright, T. (2011), "Electronic books: a call for effective business models", New Library World, Vol. 112 No. 5/6, pp. 215-221. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074801111136257
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited