1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Hear from the first Canadian public library to launch a second ebook platform offering only popular titles, no holds, and a 7-day loan period. Abbott and Hoffman share the project’s goals, implementation, customer service implications and lessons learned from managing two curated ebook collections. The cost of licensing ebooks continues to be a significant challenge for libraries, so looking at innovative ways to increase access to ebooks, foster competition in the ebook marketplace and improve fiscal sustainability is critical! MacKinnon discusses SimplyE, an IMLS-funded opensource e-reading app developed by libraries for libraries. It simplifies the library user experience in finding, borrowing and reading the ebooks libraries purchase from multiple vendors by streaming all library ebooks—from Overdrive, Bibliotheca, Axis360, enki Library, RBdigital, Odilo, and more—into a single app. Developed by New York Public Library and made available to California libraries through Califa, come hear about the libraries that have deployed SimplyE and the benefits they are seeing for library patrons, acquisitions and ebook circulation!
