The Problem with eBooks

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We're not the only ones trying to figure this out. Libraries and schools are trying to work within a system that is geared toward an individual consumer (you own your e-reader device, you own the license to a book/program/game). Publishers are actively limiting availability in school, public and library environments--limiting electronic "checkouts" to make an ebook's "shelf-life" finite. I've been discussing this actively with other Independent School Librarians, and even neighboring public ones at NBPL. For the full story of this problem, this is a great article:

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/09/school-libraries-struggle-with-e-book-loans/

 Feedback from teachers on how students are learning (or not learning) electronically would be beneficial to all of us. Currently, the library offers many ebooks, but they're all browser navigable reference books, and all of them searchable. We use Gale and Salem Press as providers for these books.

Here is a summary of the ways eTextbooks (not just books) are available right now:

Amazon/Kindle. Few to none of our textbooks available due to Publisher blocks. Exceptions being common English novels, classics, and recent non-fiction. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000702481.

iPad offers reading for other book providers, one of the few, but students would need to buy/acquire any tools from the iTunes store.

Other physical eReaders, e.g. Nook. These devices are associated with their individual stores, Barnes and Noble, etc. Few textbooks available. None of the big guns. Nooks are popular with librarians because they're cheaper than the other options.

Important Note: There are copyright issues with using Kindles (and iPads) to check out to students. Further reading: http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/home/891470-312/amazon_alters_rules_for_kindles.html.csp

CourseSmart. An eReader program for Android, iPad. For offline, you must "checkout" certain sections, not whole thing. Otherwise, must be online to work.

Publishers: Brooks Cole (Math). Some from Worth Publishers ( Econ). Some from Prentice Hall (English, History). Not all.

Some examples from CourseSmart:

1. European History textbook. 
• 180 Days Rental (6 months), e.g. September - February. 
• ~$60, savings of ~%50. Unless they need it March-July, then no savings. 
• http://www.coursesmart.com/the-west-in-the-world-renaissance-to-present/sherman-dennis-salisbury-joyce/dp/0077252713
2. AP US History textbook. 
• 180 days Rental (6 months), e.g. September - February. 
• ~$100. Savings of ~$90... unless they need it March-July, then no savings. 
• http://www.coursesmart.com/a-people-and-a-nation-a-history-of-the-united/norton-sheriff-blight-chudacoff-logevall/dp/9780495915256
3. Calculus textbook.
•  180 Days Rental (6 months).
•  ~$115. Savings of ~$100. ... unless they need it March-July, then no savings. 
• http://www.coursesmart.com/calculus-9th-edition/larson-edwards/dp/70000lti00728

CengageBrain.com. Publisher: Gale. Works with above CourseSmart apps.
http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/en/US/storefront/US?cmd=CLHeaderSearch&fieldValue=9781413033083

eCampus.com. Publisher: Varied. Offers rented textbooks as well as used. Some eBooks available that link back to CourseSmart (above).

Some examples from eCampus:

1. Economics textbook. 360 days rental. ~$30. ~$20 savings from new. http://www.ecampus.com/economics-example-1st-anderson/bk/9780716769347
2. Art History Book. 360 Day Subscription (12 months). ~$115. Savings of ~$75. http://www.ecampus.com/gardners-art-through-ages-global-history/bk/9780495093077
3. Many not available in ebook form, e.g. Geometry Textbook. http://www.ecampus.com/geometry-grades-911-mcdougal-littell/bk/9780395977279

Postscript: Overdrive
For non-textbook eBooks (fiction and non-fiction, primarily), the big provider is Overdrive, but they require a $4000 set-up subscription ($2000 for a custom site and $2,000 for books, no word on the cost for subsequent years) and we have to purchase any ebooks we want to make available through that system. Books vary, most around $20 range, audio can be as much as $100. If we stop subscribing, we lose all the ebooks we "bought." Further reading: http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/890089-264/kansas_state_librarian_goes_eyeball.html.csp

There are alternatives for Overdrive based in Follett and Macklin, but their breadth of availability doesn't yet compare. These are relatively new and are building available collections, mostly by fighting tooth and nail with publishers.