The case for e‐books: an introduction

This article explores some of the applications of the e‐book in the modern library. With over 30 years of history, recent computing advances have finally made electronic book technology a viable option to both publishers and libraries. The advantages libraries gain from the medium are many, but companies such as NetLibrary and ebrary have shown that the industry still needs to establish a definitive means of making their products successfully usable in the library environment. Library networks and consortia, such as the Golden Gateway Library Network and the Marion County (Indiana) Internet Library, have found practical ways to share e‐book subscriptions with their members; by obtaining subscriptions for the consortium, the individual members can all make use of the same collection. E‐books continue to be a matter of discussion in library discussions, and the benefits and disadvantages are being weighed in libraries across the country.