[OPEN-ILS-DEV] E-Book Connundrum

[Duimovich, George]

Hello all,

For community feedback as recommended by ESI support.

A number of libraries are pursuing E-Book pilots. At our shop, our pilot (single device) is already having success and I could see us picking up a few more devices over the winter and full blown roll out with our branches across the country sometime in 2010. We're using the Kindle to pilot, but will be looking at other readers, especially and hopefully those devices with more open format support (e.g. for Epub format, etc.)

Here's some details on the Kindle device options, but probably similar with other E-Book readers:

- Users can register up to 6 Kindles per Amazon account
- When you buy an e-book, you can upload it to all 6 Kindles
- You can load approximately 1500 books onto each kindle

So there you have it, up to 1500 bib records could potentially point to a single barcoded device.

The uptake of these E-Readers is likely to move fast IMHO. Our CIO keeps booking it out on weekends, and we've actually had some traffic coming down to that location to check out the new reader (currently not officially available for loan just yet for our staff).

Here's an example of NCSU's display of OPAC device with Kindle record details:

http://www2.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog/?view=full&No=0&Ntt=kindle&Ntk=Keyword&N=4294911395
 
I understand from ESI that they "currently developing a booking module for Mohawk College which, with minor tweaking, should be able to handle circulating the devices." Additionally, it was noted that "It might be possible, with some development, to make each kindle an Org Unit to handle the records." The latter option would of course permit one to search within a kindle device quite nicely.

Also noted is the possible use of "dummy copies" (located URIs supported in 1.6.0.0 via the 856 $9 field) so that one could contain information on the location (e.g. "Kindle 01" or "SONY 02" etc.)

Thoughts / feedback -- ideas on managing E-Books in Evergreen ??

Thanks,

George Duimovich
NRCan Library / Bibliothèque de RNCan

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