What's Next for eBook Acquisitions? Challenges for Libraries, Vendors, and Publishers

Abstract

The article explores how digital technology and electronic books (eBooks) have impacted acquisitions for libraries, vendors, and publishers. It notes the difficulties associated with cataloging, shelving, and circulating eBooks compared to print acquisitions as well as digital rights management (DRM) restrictions applied to eBooks by publishers. Vendor practices for selling eBooks are also discussed in addition to the use of firm orders and approval plans to supply eBooks to libraries. Other topics covered include demand-drive acquisitions (DDA), aggregators, and library-publisher relations.