ALA Editions No Shelf Required: E-books in Libraries

E-books have been around for more than 10 years but are still a relatively new phenomenon to may librarians and publishers. With the introduction of e-book readers, the e-book has become mainstream, with recent triple-digit annual increases in sales. But what place do they have in the library? In this volume, Polanka brings together a variety of professionals to share their experience about e-books with librarians and publishers. Providing forward-thinking ideas while remaining grounded in practical information that can be implemented in all kinds of libraries, the topic explored include *An introduction to e-books, their different types, and an overview of their history and development *E-book technology: general features of interfaces and e-book readers, best practices for acquisition, data standards, and how to track usage *Why e-books are good for learning, and how librarians can market them to a wide range of users, as illustrated by case studies and examples This crucial collection is a must-read for librarians who wish to understand how e-books fit in today's library.