Ebooks & Digital Content
Supporting the “Transformation” of libraries is a priority of the Association’s 2015 Strategic Plan, and the rapid shift from print to digital content is one of the more dramatic developments now transforming libraries of all types.
New digital forms of information offer rich and extraordinary opportunities for libraries to expand community access to information and to revolutionize in positive ways the relationship between libraries and users. At the same time, these new forms of digital content pose new challenges.
As libraries struggle to meet the challenges of providing digital content in an environment characterized by significant uncertainty and changing on a daily basis, there is a need for an Association-wide group of experts, broadly representative of the many constituencies within the library community, that can proactively address these digital content opportunities and issues at the highest level and from both a policy and practical perspective.
To help meet this need, the ALA’s Digital Content & Libraries Working Group was formed in Fall 2011 to implement the recommendations and to continue the work of ALA’s Task Force on Equitable Access to Digital Content. Working Group members were selected by the ALA President based on their high level of expertise and range of experience regarding libraries and digital content, and are broadly representative of the various constituencies within the Association and library community.
This website is meant to be a resource to support libraries in their transformation from print to digital content.
E-book Media and Communications Toolkit
Resources to help start and continue the conversation regarding library e-book lending, access issues, and general public awareness. Tools include press release and op-ed templates and guidelines for using them with editorial and news media contacts, news hooks you can use locally, tips for relationship building with media contacts, and links to examples of e-book-related editorials and news stories.
ALA ResourcesA collection of items offered by the ALA to assist in the transformation of your library through the use of Ebooks and Digital Content.
Data about Digital Content Users
Reports on who uses Digital Content and Ebooks, and how those items are used.
Issues & Where to StartIdeas for libraries starting Digital Content and Ebooks with information about the most relevant issues.
Business ModelsExamples of publisher and other business models for working with and setting up library Ebook and Digital Content distribution.
Copyright & Legal IssuesLearn about copyright issues relavent to Ebooks and Digital Content from the perspectives of the publisher, author, library and user.
Sales & PricingExamples and information about what libraries can expect for the pricing of Digital Content and Ebooks.
