World Libraries Least Likely to Cut E-Books, Study Says

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November 5 – November 12, 2009 Edition

World Libraries Least Likely to Cut E-Books, Study Says

CHARLESTON, SC/AUTHORLINK NEWS/11/05/09–In considering budget cuts this year, libraries from around the world are least likely to cut e-books and electronic-only serials and database subscriptions from their offerings, a study by CIBER research group at the University College, London. Of those surveyed, 52.5% of libraries views the acceleration of print to digital as the most effective option for balancing their budgets, with subscriptions as the most popular method.

The global library study of concerns, challenges, trends, and best practices, was to be presented this morning at the Charleston Conference, Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, SC, and was co-sponsored by Baker & Taylor's YBP Library Services and ebrary, a leading provider of digital content products and technologies.

Other highlights from the survey show that 34.7% of librarians said their budgets for this year were 5% smaller than last, excluding inflation. In the coming two years, 40.1% of libraries say their budgets will be about the same; 31.4% expect their budgets to shrink, and 28.4% foresee budget increases.

Overall, resource budgets are more vulnerable than personnel, services or infrastructure, with monographs and print journals being the most vulnerable to cutbacks.

"We are proud that more than 800 institutions representing the world`s academic, public, government, and other libraries completed our survey," said Professor David Nicholas, Director of the Department of Information Studies, UCL Centre for Publishing, and CIBER research group. "By making the results available to all, our hope is that they will stimulate further discussion and collaboration within and beyond the library community, and ultimately lead to improvements and solutions."

The survey results will be freely available shortly. Register to receive a copy at http://www.tfaforms.com/171225. For more information, email marketing@ebrary.com. A listing of additional ebrary surveys on libraries, faculty, and students is available at http://www.ebrary.com.

About CIBER

CIBER`s expertise lies in the mapping, monitoring and evaluating of digital information systems, platforms, services, roll-outs and environments, using robust, big picture and innovative research methods, specially deep log analysis. CIBER has published a number of studies regarding digital information use, ejournal use and impact, cultural heritage online, impact of electronic course texts, information-seeking behavior of business students, and the like. For a full listing visit http://www.ucl.ac.uk/infostudies/research/ciber/.

About the Charleston Conference (http://www.katina.info/conference)

The Charleston Conference is an informal annual gathering of librarians, publishers, electronic resource managers, consultants, and vendors of library materials in Charleston, SC, in November, to discuss issues of importance to them all. It is designed to be a collegial gathering of individuals from different areas who discuss the same issues in a non-threatening, friendly, and highly informal environment. Presidents of companies discuss and debate with library directors, acquisitions librarians, reference librarians, serials librarians, collection development librarians, and many, many others. Begun in 1980, the Charleston Conference has grown from 20 participants in 1980 to over 1,000 in 2005.

About Baker & Taylor

Baker & Taylor, Inc. (www.baker-taylor.com) is a global information and entertainment services company that offers print and digital books and entertainment products along with value-added services to libraries, educational institutions and retailers. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company has been in existence for more than 180 years, developing long-term relationships with major suppliers, including book publishers, movie studios and music labels. Baker & Taylor maintains one of the largest combined in-stock book, video and music inventories in the United States, and services the broadest customer base in the industry. Baker & Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., a leading private equity investment firm.

About ebrary (www.ebrary.com)

ebrary helps libraries, corporations, publishers, and consumers get the most out of their digital content. The company offers a growing selection of more than 170,000 digital books, handbooks, reports, maps, journals and other valuable content from over 350 of the world`s leading publishers under flexible subscription, purchase, and usage-based models. Additionally, ebrary offers e-publishing services for customers to cost-effectively distribute their own PDF content online on ebrary`s servers or their own.

All ebrary products and services can be integrated and delivered via a single easy-to-use interface that includes powerful tools for finding, discovering, and managing information. With ebrary InfoTools, every word in the ebrary system is a network to other online resources of the customers` choice, extending their value while increasing end-user knowledge and efficiencies. Founded in 1999, ebrary is privately held and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA,USA.