Open eBook Forum Announces Library Special Interest Group

Posted on May 30, 2003

The Open eBook Forum, a trade and standards association for the ebook industry, has announced the creation of a Library Special Interest Group (SIG). The group was formed to enable publishers, ebook resellers, DRM, software and hardware companies to communicate directly with librarians. The group meets on a weekly basis via conference calls and maintains communication through an email list. Participation in the group is currently open to the public. The group is chaired by Pamela Smith, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Baker & Taylor and Loree Potash, Marketing Director at OverDrive.

"One of the most promising things about the SIG is that we have a place, early on in the incorporation of the eBook business models being introduced into libraries, to address any issues that could possibly stand in the way of eBooks being successful in libraries," said Pamela Smith, co-chair of the Library SIG. "There are a lot of questions and newly discovered business problems and it's terrific so many of the concerned parties can come together and work through them."

In addition to the group, the OeBF, in conjunction with the American Library Association (ALA), is developing a comprehensive survey called eBook Usage in Libraries. One of the first goals of the Library SIG will be to develop the survey methodology, oversee the distribution of the survey and analyze and publish the results. The OeBF has engaged Chartula, a consulting firm specializing in ePublishing and eLearning research, to assist the Library SIG with the survey. Initial sponsors of the survey include OverDrive, Baker & Taylor, Adobe, Greenwood Publishing Group, Microsoft and Palm Digital Media.

Robin Bryan, from the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and a member of the survey sub-committee said, "There isn't a lot of research out there on eBook usage and acceptance in public libraries. The survey the OEBF is developing in conjunction with the ALA is not duplicating any previous efforts, in fact it will really expand what information is out there and help us learn a tremendous amount about public opinion and approval."