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Dreaming big, going bold

Discover how PALCI, the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, is creating a shovel-ready e-book collection during times of economic caution and confusion. Learn about their goals, survey results, obstacles, and future plans.

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Dreaming big, going bold

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  1. Dreaming big, going bold Creating a “shovel-ready” e-book collection during a time of economic caution, confusion, and crisis

  2. What’s it all about, PALCI? • Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium • Founded in 1996 with 35 members; now 76 in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia • Primary focus on resource-sharing (E-ZBorrow, RapidILL) and e-resources • New emphases on cooperative collection management, disaster preparedness, et al.

  3. We’re are all mixed up • State system, “state-related,” and “independent” institutions (76%) • ARLs, Oberlin Group schools, other consortia • Very small to very large, under 100 FTE to more than 80,000 FTE • 54 schools (71%) have under 6,000 FTE • Total FTE in excess of 500,000 • Well-to-do institutions—and not so well-to-do

  4. Ready, aim, collect • Create a consortium-wide e-book collection • Do so at minimal cost to members • Use grant funding from various sources • Keep pace with student approaches to research • Allow libraries to repurpose space • Make it a library-focused collection—not a vendor-determined collection

  5. E-book buzz • E-book talking: Increased discussion of e-books and their use by academic libraries • More e-books on the market • “Millennial revolution”—more internet, less print, please • We’re full up—making room for less • It’s a Texas thang, y’all—UT System Digital Library, TexShare

  6. Hey, kids, let’s put on a survey • Using SurveyMonkey, we surveyed PALCI library directors and collection development coordinators for 3 weeks in September 2008 • 150 persons were surveyed; 71 responded • Complete survey results: • PALCI website— http://www.palci.org • Click on “Services” tab • Select “Collection Management” • Scroll to “E-Books”

  7. The survey says one thing . . . • 53.8% of respondents stated that their institutions had 1 to 4 off-campus centers or multiple campuses • 40.4% of respondents said their student population was nearly 100% residential • 57.7% said that their institutions offered fewer than 25% of courses through distance education

  8. Then another . . . • 87.5% of respondents said their institutions already had an e-book collection • 28.3% said that their collection had more than 10,000 volumes • 74.5% had NetLibrary books • 51.1% had e-books from other sources (APA, Credo Reference, Gale, Springer, Sage, et al.)

  9. The survey also says . . . • 62.5% said they would be interested in a PALCI e-book collection • 66.7% would like to see a collection that is purchased/owned with annual maintenance • What would they be willing to pay? • One time--$2,000 to $20,000 • Annually--$100 to $5,000

  10. All over the map • Top choices for collection content • Reference (80.0%) • Computer science (63.3%) • Core works (e.g., RCL) (60.0%) • STM (53.3%) • Business (46.7%) • Education (46.7%) • Social sciences (43.3%)

  11. Obstacles and opportunities • Global economic crisis • State budget crisis • College and university budget crises • Pennsylvania (and New Jersey) Knowledge Initiative • Lyrasis merger • E-ZBorrow migration/other PALCI cooperative endeavors • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

  12. Where to now? First steps • Currently investigating collections large and small from various vendors • Reference, subject-specific, EBL, MyILibrary, eBrary Academic Complete, et al. • Offering collections for subscription/purchase to individual libraries • Facilitating selection through approval vendors • Request for proposal for ideal e-book collection

  13. Keep on walkin’ • Consortial purchase of e-book collection • Smaller, subject-specific collections • Maintenance paid for by members • Part of dues? • Or an added charge? Based on what? • FTE? • Use? • Some combination of both? • Investigate funding sources

  14. Are we there yet? • Deposit account for purchases • Both library- and patron-driven • Create a profile, limiting to specific publishers and parameters (e.g., university, STM) • Realistically grant-fundable? • ILL entire book (at least inside the consortium) • An “E-Z” solution to maintenance?

  15. Other paths • Buy an e-book platform (eBrary) • Follow OCUL model • Discrete purchase • Annual maintenance? • Requires advanced technical support • Open source? • MARC records or a searchable target • Would all collections be able to use this platform?

  16. Playing to strengths • Pennsylvania Digital Library replacement? • Accessory to Access Pennsylvania Digital Repository? • PALINET/Lyrasis mass digitization effort • Million Books project • University of Pittsburgh Press digital editions • Possible LOCKSS connection • But do we gain enough from the effort?

  17. Let’s keep exploring . . . • Another idea: An e-book reader pilot project • Group purchase of e-book readers for 1 or more member libraries • Provide textbooks; let students, libraries, select additional content • Fund e-book service for a period of time • See what gets used, by whom, and how

  18. Or should we simply go home? • Use grant funds to support depleted book budgets • A discrete purchase . . . • And one benefitting the publishing industry, not just a few large vendors . . . • But not a very “sexy” investment • And doesn’t help with library space needs • But could be done (fairly) quickly!

  19. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) • ALA identifies specific ARRA funding for libraries: • National Endowment for the Arts ($50m US) • Title I (Department of Education) ($13b US) • Enhancing Education through Technology ($650m US) • Broadband/telecommunications ($7.2b US) • State fiscal stabilization ($53.6b US)

  20. Dollars and sense • Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) • Mission: “Create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas” • Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) • Part of IMLS but administered by states • Philanthropic sources (Pennsylvania connections) • Carnegie Corporation of New York • “Meeting the challenges ahead”—K-16 education, science and math education • Mellon Foundation • Higher education, information technology, scholarly communication

  21. What do you think? • Which approach would be most easily grant-fundable? • Which approach would be of the most benefit to libraries and their users? • How do we deal with ongoing maintenance? • How do we make maintenance fair? • Could e-books become E-ZBorrow 3.0? • Will the Pens finally take the Stanley Cup this year?

  22. Let’s talk John Barnett Assistant Director, PALCI Room 333, 7500 Thomas Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15208 USA (412) 247-4130 (voice) barnett@palci.org OR jhb23@pitt.edu http://www.palci.org

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