EBook Survey Done

[EDIT: 4:00PM]  5 responses fell - literally - through the cracks and have now been added to the responses bringing to 116 the total number of surveys filled out.

The results are in from the month-long survey.  Granted, the survey reached only people who already use the library.  There were both paper and electronic versions collected, 116 responses in all.  Here are the results:

• 28% of HPL patrons already own an ebook reader of some type.
• 62% of patrons responding "No" (do not own a reader) plan to purchase one in the near future.
• 81% of respondents indicated they would borrow ebooks from HPL if a collection were available.
• 85% of respondents stated that they would read high-demand titles in ebook format if that was what they received.

This gives me an indication, at least, that our two new initiatives deserve further exploration and action.  First we will move forward testing the idea of using library-owned ebook readers to circulate extra copies of high-demand books.  We would continue to purchase 1 or 2 paper copies and then fill demand with electronic copies loaded by staff on to the library's ebook readers.

Second, we will explore the options (which are surprisingly few) for download / borrowing services for ebooks so that patrons who already own readers can start borrowing their books from us.  Frankly, the decision has been made for us at HPL, at least for the moment.  Our service for downloadable audiobooks, OverDrive, seems to have their hooks in us.  They offer (according to their website) about 100k audiobook, music, video and ebook titles.  We can begin purchasing ebook titles immediately from them.

We may also look into Netlibrary which offers (again, according to their website) 146k PDF format downloadable books in a variety of genres.