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Matt Enis reported on the statewide Massachusetts State Ebook Project in
The Digital Shift recently and highlighted the planned ebook lending platform, staff training for the pilot, and patron feedback. While 97% of staff stated that they knew their library was participating in the pilot, it was a mixed bag of responses as to whether they were prepared for it. Patron feedback highlighted the confusion of logging in and accessing different platforms, but overall, almost 90% of patrons were able to find and download an ebook. Massachusetts plans to continue the project after the pilot evaluation and states that libraries will have to pay for access eventually.
Massachusetts has set the stage for statewide/collaborative ebook collections and their pilot will be reviewed as a possible path for other states and collaboratives to follow. Our own Minitex Director, Valerie Horton, and State Librarian, Jennifer Nelson, will be sharing the stage for an MLA session in Mankato about the future of statewide ebooks in Minnesota. What are your thoughts for establishing a program for collaborative, shared digital access to ebooks? Valerie and Jen will share what has been happening and encourage input from session attendees.
Here’s more information about their session at MLA. Join the lively discussion:
What's Next for MN eBooks? A Better Together Follow-Up to the Summit
Valerie Horton, Director, Minitex | Jennifer Nelson, Director/State Librarian, State Library Services, Minnesota Department of Education
Thursday, October 9, 8:00-9:00am
A statewide webinar series and summit concerning the future of eBooks in Minnesota libraries were held in the Spring and Summer of 2014. Leaders of these educational planning sessions will provide additional information and collect feedback concerning the outcomes of the collaborative effort. Attend this session and help determine how Minnesota libraries can provide stronger access to virtual content by working Better Together.
http://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/?page=ConferenceSchedule
