Digital Collections in the New York Times

The New York Times has an interesting article about libraries providing digital book collections to patrons. While e-books are still a small portion of library collections, this is an area that will continue to see growth while print collections in many libraries will shrink. I'm saying this because, like cell phones, digital books that patrons can check out without going to the library and always be available are simply more convenient than print books. We have all worked with students who want a book that is either checked out or at another library. Sometimes they have enough time to wait for ILL or are able to place a hold on the book, but more often than not they need it right away. Digital books allow us to provide materials more effectually.

There are many issues surrounding e-books; finding a business model and subscription service that works for authors, publishers, and libraries, getting old print editions of books digitized, legal issues surrounding authors rights, letting patrons know that digital books are available, etc. I am confident that some of these issues, finding a business model and resolving legal issues, will be solved with time. While these issues won't go away entirely, there is just too much incentive to provide digital copies of books for publishers, authors, and libraries.