Content area
Full Text
Abstract
Chapter 3 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 49, no. 3) "E-book Platforms for Libraries," the main part of the report, is an A-Z directory of fifty-one e-book platforms competing for the attention of purchasing librarians in the United States and around the world. Each platform is placed in the context of its respective library market and identified according to platform type (e.g., aggregator, publisher), library market (e.g., academic/research, public), e-book type (e.g., trade books, reference books, etc.), and subjects covered (e.g., general, science, humanities, etc.). Special attention is given to unique features of each product.
The following is an A-Z listing of major e-book platforms available to libraries looking to purchase academic, professional, trade, and K-1 2 e-books. Each platform is described and identified according to the following characteristics:
* Library markets: academic/research, corporate, government, public, K-1 2, etc.
* Platform type: aggregator, distributor, e-book lending service, publisher, university press consortium (If a platform serves a dual purpose, it is identified accordingly, e.g., aggregator/ distributor.)
* E-book type: handbooks, reference books, trade nonfiction, fiction, children's books, etc.
* Main subjects: general, science, humanities, arts, social sciences, etc.
* Background: a concise description of the platform, its unique features, and the company's vision for the product
* Business model: a brief explanation of purchasing options and plans available to libraries
123Library
Website: https://www.1231ibrary.org
Parent company: 123Doc Education
library markets: academic/research
Platform type: aggregator/distributor
E-book type: scholarly publications, textbooks, general nonfiction
Main subjects: science, technology, health, medicine, social science, humanities
Background: The United Kingdom's largest distributor of academic e-books, 123Library is marketed to libraries as a universal platform that works with all computer systems and mobile devices. Its web-based e-book reader (123FastReader) preserves the original formatting of each page as published in print - beneficial for libraries acquiring illustrated books. The company partners with a wide range of publishers to distribute academic, textbook, and trade content to libraries, including Hodder Education, SAGE Publications, Informa Healthcare, Elsevier, and Wiley-Black - well. It has a strong presence in the European e-book market. Over 100 new e-books in the field of health care are added each month. Basic search is a Googlestyle single input field that recognizes ISBNs as distinct from other values. Advanced search allows users to...