A look at the factors affecting library adoption of e-books:
Like rolling earthquakes, new technology continues to rumble along the length and breadth of the publishing value chain . . . Curiously, however, in some cases, the earth actually moves, while in others, the perception that the earth might one day tremble is all that has happened. The latter, at least as far as trade publishing is concerned, is the situation with e-books on hand-held readers. As Henry Yuen, CEO of Gemstar, feared it might be—and as the general media have now affirmed to be the case—the e-reader marketplace appears \”dead on arrival,\” except for a small band of early adopters.
This is true in library circles as well. \”We are not lending e-books,\” noted Susan Kent, director of the Los Angeles Public Library. \”They are unwieldy and unreadable.\” In a very different environment, Lori Barkema, library director in Albert Lea, Minn., said, \”E-books are just not catching on. Not here, and not in the larger cities. And Minnesotans are big readers. It will be at least five years.\”
More from Publishers Weekly (registration required). This article was prepared for presentation at the Frankfurt Book Fair\’s \”Big Questions\” conference being held on 10/8/01.
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