The Elending Project Releases Another Important Study

Earlier this month, our colleagues in Australia from the eLending Project produced another invaluable study, in this case exploring how libraries there decide to purchase e-book content. Rebecca Giblin, Associate Professor of and Director – Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia (IPRIA), sent RF the following announcement.  RF regrets not sharing it earlier but did not wish it to be overshadowed by the license model changes recently announced by some Big 5 publishers.

I’m writing to let you know that our major research report, 'Driven by Demand - Public library perspectives on the elending market', launched today in Canberra, is now online. This is the result of a nationwide survey of Australian libraries aimed at understanding how publisher licensing and pricing practices affect their decision-making about which books to add to their collections. It reflects tremendously thoughtful and generous contributions from libraries all around Australia – the response rate to our survey was humblingly high. Please do check it out – there are some surprising and probably controversial things in there, but our library partners agree that it is an accurate portrayal of Australian perspectives at least.

RFencourages librarians to look at and share the study widely. Their findings would generally carry over in the USA and Canada.  Please look here for a summary. The study’s results are certainly in line with a 2017 ReadersFirst survey of librarians on license models, though far more detailed and of greater validity: (to simplify grossly, with apologies to Rebecca and her co-researchers) multiple/variable models at point of licensing are good, time-bound licenses are not good (licenses should be either circ-bound or perpetual), a pay-per-use model is problematic, simultaneous access would be helpful but is a challenge to achieve under current models, and current models/pricing present challenges for developing broad collections.

Studies are supporting the observations of front-line librarians: we face great challenges in developing the same access to content in digital that we offer in print, with solutions being difficult but certainly requiring joint advocacy and action. Thanks to the eLending Project for more great work to help guide us.