Libraries are learning to co-exist with eReaders as digital content takes the book buying market by storm while leaving book lovers in shock.
Have you ever wished you had a different book with you while on vacation? Maybe you wanted to read the latest book by your favorite author but could not make it to a book store? eReaders give you flexibility and availability no matter where you are. They can store thousands of books on an easy to use, lightweight device that you can take practically anywhere. This makes the eReader extremely popular for people of all ages.
People around the world are picking up the latest eReaders from multiple companies specializing in the market. They provide their readers with all the perks that electronic reading devices offer the electronic generation. Libraries are thinking of new and innovative ways to keep the library relevant in a digital world. How can libraries keep up to this new technology? They can work with publishing companies to form lending systems that makes eBooks available to the public.
The New York Public Library has incorporated digital content into their lending system, but publishers are setting limits on books they sell to libraries.
Canadian Libraries are constantly expanding their digital collection as well. Partnerships with with major publishing companies and the database company Overdrive.com have given libraries more options for lending digital content.
Still, libraries have to compete with new lending systems such as the Amazon Lending Library as well as a new eBook store offered through Google. Innovation is key to success, but the environment a library provides to its members is more personable then any eBook store.
We need to offer e-books in our libraries but what we are really offering is technical help. Our library staff spends a lot of time helping people learn to use their e-readers.