E-book vendors continue to experiment: adjustments to business models, consolidation of content, and mergers with competitors mean constant change. What's good for innovation can equal confusion when it comes to choosing an e-book platform for your library. Making a sound purchasing decision requires research and close consideration of trade-offs, and Roncevic's new issue of
Library Technology Reports will get you started. Based on surveys of e-book vendors with an established presence in academic, public, and/or K 12 library markets, this report includes
- Background and business model descriptions for 51 leading e-book vendors
- Four tables comparing content, technical specifications, functionality, and business models
- An at-a-glance overview of platforms, including vendor website URLs
- Bulleted checklists of factors to consider, and questions to ask vendors
- An examination of the blurring channels of publisher, aggregator, and distributor platforms, with advice to help you avoid content overlap