South Ayrshire Libraries obtained an eBook service through a three-year contract with Overdrive Inc. This allows library users to check out and download eBooks and audiobooks to computers and mobile devices using their library card. The service has been popular, with nearly 5,000 downloads since launching in 2010. It appeals to both traditional and new users and is accessible for those who cannot visit physical libraries. The future holds expanding formats, titles, and apps to make the digital collection even more accessible.

1. How South Ayrshire Libraries embraced
e Books

2.  What is an eBook service?
 How did we obtain one?
 Was it value for money?
 What does the future hold ?
 Frequently asked questions.

3.  eBooks are downloadable books which you can read and
audio books which you can listen to on a computer and /
or on a mobile device such as: an eBook reader, mobile
phone, iPod, iPad or MP3 player.

4.  The majority of libraries work with an ‘eBook aggregator’.
 We have a three year contract with Overdrive Inc.
 Overdrive negotiates all lending rights, copyright issues and
permissions with publishers and authors, on our behalf.
 The contract is comprised of two elements: stock purchase and
fixed-price software maintenance.
 We have contracted to buy a minimum of $5,000 of stock each year.

5.  Browse, check out, and
download with your library
card… anytime, anywhere!
 Download to a Windows® or
Mac® computer… and popular
mobile devices.
 Transfer to devices like the
Apple® iPod® and Sony®
Reader™.

6.  Library users can choose the lending period –
one, two or three weeks.
 eBooks and eAudio books can be requested.
Once the request is available to download,
an email will automatically be sent to the
customer.
 eBooks and eAudio books are automatically
deleted from the user’s device at the end of
the borrowing period.
 Easy to use, available 24/7, no late fees
 Our LMS allows our users to join online.

7. Download titles directly to your mobile
device with the Overdrive® Media Console
App from iPhone App store or Android
Market.
Compatible with
 Android
 Blackberry
 iPhone, iPad, iPod touch
 Windows mobile

8.  4th November 2009 conference call with Overdrive.
 24th November 2009 initial meeting with Council lawyers.
 20th January 2010 legal contract signed.
 25th January Overdrive appoints Ben Alcorn as Project Manager
 11th February Overdrive forms completed and returned.
 8th March visit from Claudia Weissmann and our first staff training.
 20th April meeting with our LMS supplier – Innovative Interfaces.

9. Once these steps were taken the real fun began!
 April / May 2010.
 Project implementation and staff training.
 eBook stock purchasing.
 Finding IT solutions.
 2nd June 2010 first marketing and advertising meeting.
 June 2010 testing of patron and catalogue links.
 15th June 2010 site live but not advertised or launched.
 1st July 2010 eBook service launched with full media coverage.

10.  The answer is a resounding “yes”!
 The service has raised the library profile in the local area.
 New users include many people who had previously thought that the library had
nothing to offer.
 It appeals to younger members – and our eBook Twilight series can’t
be lost / stolen or soaked in the bath!
 It is socially and geographically inclusive – nursing homes, the visually-impaired and
includes those that even the mobile library doesn’t reach!
 Shift workers.

11.  We currently have 877 eBook service users.
 We have issued nearly 5,000 downloads.
 Our opening stock was 228 titles.
 159 titles were eBooks, 70 eAudio books.
 eAudio books are as popular as eBooks.
 By March 2011 we had 611 titles.
 By March 2011 our e titles was 3730 - 0.7% of our total checkouts.
 We now have 880 eBooks and eAudio books, 19,529 Project Gutenberg.
 This includes 164 children’s / young adult titles.
 Our budget is £10,500 per year which is 6% of the Book fund.
 A further £5,000 is allocated from the IT budget for site maintenance.

12.  Overdrive statistical reports can tell us how our users accessed
our site and when they accessed our site.
 We created an online feedback form.
 Utilised our library blog to encourage users to provide comments
and participate in online surveys.
 Liaised with school librarians and school pupils.
 Our annual Reader’s Day included a talk and
demonstration on eBooks from an eBook publisher.

13.  Close relationship with Council
Communications Department.
 Overdrive has an excellent range of publicity
materials that can be customised.
 We conducted a “planned” campaign that
included: business cards, leaflets, book
marks, posters, bill boards, local radio
jingles and coverage by BBC, STV and local
press.
 Competitions and a range of ongoing
publicity on our Library Blog.
 Utilised Social Networking sites.
 Won Overdrive’s International Marketing
Award 2010 - $1,000 of credits.

14.  Much talk of the, “death of the printed book”.
 More books than ever are being published in paper form.
 With the ever-increasing number of eBooks being published, it
adds up to more words being written, published and read than
ever before.
 Consumer driven.
 We are all in a 24 / 7 virtual information age.
 Huge changes being asked of the publishing industry.
 E books / libraries / publishers / Amazon – new business model
required.

15.  Local Studies staff meeting June 2010
 Book chosen for publishing / criteria Beginning of June 2010
 Meeting with E converter Mid June 2010
 Quote from E convertor and agreement reaches End of June
 Proof copy from E convertor Beginning of August
 Cover agreed upon and digitally saved Mid August
 Price agreed and ISBN numbers assigned Mid August
 Account opened with LSI Mid August
 E files uploaded to LSI End of August
 E files uploaded to Amazon End of August
 Product due to be launched November 2011

16.  Big changes being asked of libraries – by their users!
 E publishing gives greater freedom to all would-be authors
to publish material.
 Libraries required to “signpost” users through the avalanche
of e materials now available.
 Libraries as e publishers.
 No title need ever be out of print.

17.  Whether eBooks or print books – questions are the same:
The cover design, the editing, the marketing, pricing, distribution.
Whether eBooks or print books for librarians the questions are the same:
Value for money, well written, would our users enjoy it.
 What about the non-digitally aware?
 The whole Amazon phenomenon.
 Bloomsbury Press and their
“bringing books back from the dead”
initiative.

18.  The number of books published as eBooks continues to grow.
 Many books are published in both formats.
 A growing number of universities and colleges have “e textbooks”.
 Good for the developing countries?
 Inter library loans?
 Publishers are still unsure of what business model to follow.
 A blurring of the roles of publishing / design / marketing / selling.
 Increased use of social media.
 Confused authors wondering what / how to publish.
 Role of libraries as publishers.
 Role of social media in marketing our services.
 Will there be print editions still available to buy?
 Print on Demand machines in libraries?

19.  Library Apps.
 QR Codes and Near Field Communication.
 Augmented Reality.
 E publishing of Local History materials.
 E textbooks for schools.
 18 months ago we had not considered any
of the above and now…
 What will we all be doing in the very near
future ?

20.  South Ayrshire Libraries are working in
conjunction with Solus UK to launch an
App in late Autumn2011.
 Direct access to Library site.
 Ability to use all aspects of the service.
 Branch specific if required.
 Travel information added.
 To appeal to South Ayrshire secondary
school pupils as each school library comes
on board with our LMS.

21.  South Ayrshire Libraries intends to publish two more eBooks – each
converted from print titles in our Local History Collection.
 Both titles will be ‘Monumental Inscriptions’ previously published as print
editions by South Ayrshire Libraries.
 Books will be sold as POD items and as eBooks on Amazon.
 Explore the possibility of Libraries becoming
publishers for community publications and
unpublished authors.

22.  Do we lend eBook readers? No
 What proportion of the book budget is devoted to eBooks? 6%
 What proportion of the issues are eBooks? 0.7%
 Do you charge for eBooks ? No
 Most popular downloads: Stieg Larsson, James Patterson, Kathy Reichs
 Our top 50 downloads include titles by: Stephanie Meyer, Anthony Horowitz
Jacqueline Wilson
 Checkouts to October 2011 5329, including 543 downloads of children’s / young adult
titles.
 What formats can be downloaded? MP3, WMA, ePUB, PDF, Movies and Music
Jean Inness, South Ayrshire Libraries
October 2011