The document provides an overview of the downloadable media industry for libraries. It discusses the founding of major distributors like OverDrive and netLibrary. It outlines the evolution of e-book and e-audiobook formats over time. The document also examines current e-reader devices like Kindle, Nook, and iPad as well as download services like Freegal and Freading. Emerging technologies like color e-paper and e-ink are also mentioned.

1. Downloadable Media: A Practical
Look at the Industry
Kathy Petlewski
Electronic Resources Librarian

2. In The Beginning…
 1986 – OverDrive founded. In 2002, they started
marketing downloadable digital media to libraries.
 Formats included MobiPocket & PDF for e-books and
WMA for e-audiobooks.
 Now includes EPUB, Kindle format & Open EPUB for e-
books and has added MP3 for e-audiobooks and WMV
for e-videos.
 Currently the largest distributor of digital media to public
libraries.
 1 user = 1 license model. Restrictions by various
publishers now limiting libraries in purchase choices.

3. Then Came netLibrary
 Founded in 1998 with IPO in 2000.
 Offered both e-books (academic focus) as well as e-
audiobooks (public library focus.)
 E-books had to be read online while e-audiobooks
could be downloaded to MP3 devices.
 Purchased by OCLC in 2002 and then sold to EBSCO in
2010.
 Under EBSCO, content now includes downloadable
reference books for K-12 with a variety of E-book
Subject Sets and e-audiobook packages for children
and young adults.

4. Freegal and Freading Services
 Music taken from the Sony Entertainment Catalog.
 Over 20,000 e-book titles available, but none from the
Big Six publishers.
 Works on a token system. A library can buy a block of
downloads, a set number for the whole year, but once
those are gone they’re gone. You can either set a
library-wide weekly cap (divide your yearly total by
52) or choose no cap. Users are limited to 3
downloads per week.
 Also offers an “unlimited” option – sure to eat up a
library’s budget.

5. Current State of e-Readers
•E-ink offers superior , no glare, reading
experience.
•Most have a 6” screen and weigh
approx. 7 oz.
•Ability to change font sizes and some
font styles
•Battery life is normally a month
between charges.
•WiFi comes built in, but some also have
3G.
•2 – 4 GB internal memory.
•New models have touch screens.

6. Amazon Kindle Fire
 Amazon’s answer to the iPad &
Nook Tablet
 16 million colors, 1024 x 600
pixel resolution with 7.5” x 4.7”
screen
 Uses Amazon Silk web browser
 8GB internal storage (6GB
available for user content).
 7-8 hr. battery life
 Supports Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF,
unprotected MOBI

7. Nook Color & Nook Tablet
•Full color – backlit screen
•Built in social networking ability and
web browsing.
•15 oz in weight, external speaker
and 8-10 hr. battery life. (9 hours
video on Tablet)
•Build on “Droid” platform &
includes several apps.
•add up to 32 GB with microSD™
card.

8. iPad 1, 2 or 3
 Depending on which “app” is
downloaded, it can be used
for Kindle or ePUB
formatted e-books.
 9-10 hours of battery life
depending on WiFi use.
 Anywhere from 8 – 64 GB
memory, depending on
model.

9. Devices for Digital Audio
•Using OverDrive Media Console
and iTunes, most WMA format e-
audiobooks may now be used
with iPods and iPhones.
•Some Creative Zen portable
devices will also play e-videos
from OverDrive.
•All will play the MP3 format
since there is no digital rights
management involved.

10. On the Horizon!
Color e-paper - Kyobo eReader, the first device to ship
with a Mirasol screen. So far, reviews of this have been
poor.
Color e-ink - Jetbook Color from Ectaco, a 9.7-inch
eReader not yet widely available in the United States.
DRM management totally on server side. OverDrive
has major announcement coming in June 2012.

11. Time for Questions & Comments
This presentation may be found online at:
www.slideshare.net/kpetlewski/downloadable-media