Picking up a book from your local library has now become that bit easier as you can now download an e-book in many parts of the country.
Already Essex, Luton, and Windsor & Maidenhead library services provide e-books for library members with many more to follow in the coming months.

Essex – http://essexca.lib.overdrive.com/398C1801-786E-44B9-A97A-161DBFDDD728/10/367/en/Default.htm
Windsor and Maidenhead – http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/libraries.htm
Luton – http://www.lutonlibraries.co.uk/cinehubEast/lutonlibrary-exhibition.nsf/LookupAreas/1FFC07DFE463B0B4802574A5003CDED7?OpenDocument

Richmond upon Thames library service operate an e-book service, but the book has to be read sitting at your computer.

Services due to launch very soon are:
Bexley, Bromley, Kensington & Chelsea, Hampshire, Lewisham, Liverpool, Norfolk and Sutton.

How it works

The technology comes from OverDrive http://search.overdrive.com/ which has more than 300,000 titles at present.

If you are a member of a particular library service you can access the library’s website to download a book. You can also reserve books by placing them on hold.

When the license expires you can no longer access the book – unless you re-borrow it. The advantage of this is that you will never have to pay a fee for an overdue book again.

With a fixed number of licenses for each book the book you want might not be immediately available. The system works with PC and Mac computers where the book is downloaded. Depending on the library service you may be able to download your borrowed e-book to a hand held device, but it might not be compatible with all devices.

Here are some details about the Luton service:
•        Service users register online and use their library card number and PIN to access their account
•        The service started in February 2009 and up until June there were 76 downloads of ebooks.
•        People tend to use the service in the evening and at weekends when the library is closed, demonstrating the value of this type of service in enhancing the library rather than taking away core traffic.
•        They can select up to 5 items for a maximum of 14 days each, after which the copy on the computer hard drive deletes itself
•        Currently a range of 800 titles with 1000 titles by the end of the year

About the technology

The OverDrive loans system also works with Sony’s Reader range. With the launch of Sony’s new e-reader The Reader Daily Edition there is the facility to borrow an e-book from a local library with a limited time license. You need to be a member of the particular library signed up to the service and in the USA the New York Library is the first to sign up to the service.

Another scheme is being developed by the publisher Bloomsbury which aims to make its book lists available for e-lending through signed up library services. Library users would be able to read books, search the text, read author interviews, reviews and features on the book of their choice and join discussion groups.

OCLC is also offering public libraries packages of e-book titles http://library.netlibrary.com/Library.aspx

Role of the MLA

MLA is planning a number of support measures for libraries considering e-books services and has organised a development group to review these support materials.

In addition, MLA will be working at a national level to broker relationships between a variety of e-books suppliers and library services. It will also be working to engage publishers and manufacturers of e-book readers to provide a positive environment for the development of e-book services in libraries.

The Department of Culture Media and Sport is currently consulting on the possibility of extending the Public Lending Right, which pays authors every time a book is borrowed from a library, to include non-print books such as e-books. The consultation is expected to be completed in October.

If you want to take a look for yourself there’s an e-reader display at the British Library showcasing some of the latest equipment and technology.
Contact: Simon Bell, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Licensing.