2014 Charleston Library Conference

The session brings together representatives from a research library, major vendor, leading not-for-profit press, and large commercial publisher to discuss challenges posed by the current “Wild West” environment for e-books, in which technological options, pricing regimes, and business models are in constant flux, and are exacerbated by financial pressures.

Libraries, publishers, and vendors share a common goal of providing the best support for users’ needs through the provision of the largest possible universe of relevant content. How might key players have productive dialogues focused on advancing equitable long-term strategies that recognize we all are parts of the same e-books ecosystem? To what degree can librarians, publishers, and vendors cooperatively define a shared framework for e-book vending to ensure the sustainability of a rich and efficient ecosystem? What are the essential perspectives that each needs to understand and accept as legitimate? This is an important discussion that must be engaged now.