Abstract

This article describes the current e-books situation in Spanish university libraries, analyzing their distribution and access models. The five stages of an e-book library service are described: selection, acquisition, processing, access and evaluation. The specific aspects that should be taken into account in each phase are explained, and illustrated with some examples.

Abstract

Current educational, professional, and academic environments require skills and accurate tools to efficiently manage large volumes of information. Reading skills are a key aspect in this regard. A new generation of reading tools are necessary; they should be simple to use, yet capable of managing information powerfully. Their aim should be empowering readers by helping them to become more skilled readers capable of an active, effective, and efficient reading. In particular, active reading on digital displays requires assistance in four basic processes: annotation, extraction of content, navigation, and improved effective design. The LiquidText application is analyzed as an example of how new models and metaphors can facilitate interaction with digital texts by reducing complexity through an intelligent simplicity, which is, after all, a recurring demand of contemporary digital design applications.

Abstract

Book digitization is having a significant impact at all economic, business and legal levels. Concepts that had prevailed since the advent of the printing press more than 500 years ago have to be changed. With self-publishing, authors do not need publishers, and some indie (independent) are getting an enthusiastic public reception, selling hundreds of thousands of copies. For their part, publishers, who traditionally had been confined to one language and one territory, can easily reach a global scale with the advent of the e-book. Large multinational companies like Amazon and Apple have already landed in Europe, and soon they will arrive in the rest of the world. The e-book is not only a change from paper to digital but is also having a substantial impact on reading habits.

Abstract

With the advent of digital books it is recommended that librarians take an active role, defending the rights of citizens to be able to continue enjoying free reading, and also maintaining their own image of being up-to-date professionals. Librarians should know technical, economic and legal details of the publishing world to act on new fronts, such as being literary agents, promoters of issues of local interest or licensing consultants.

Abstract

Ebooks have undergone a spectacular development in the past two years, extending their success beyond the forecasts of specialists. Attest to this digital reading statistics, the growth of the publishing offer, and the increased reading devices sales. One interesting thing has been the emergence of the iPad, a device introduced in early 2010 that, although it is not specifically devoted to reading, it has been discovered as one of the preferred e-readers. The importance of the phenomenon is in the fact that major publishers and authors, and large media groups are producing applications and products for exclusive use in this device. In contrast to static and mimetic reading of traditional books, there are new products and ways of digital reading with multimedia features.

Abstract

The emergence of electronic ink, reading devices with legibility levels comparable to paper books, with capacity to store several thousand books, the increase of digital publishing offerings and their increasing presence in publishers’ catalogues, the iPad success with benefits beyond conventional reading, and the emergence of new business models draw an inexorably digital picture in which the issue of copyright protection is essential for the development of the cultural industry. The success of internet business models depends in large measure on systems of digital rights protection. In this context, the development of DRM (Digital Rights Management) has been fundamental and is allowing the management of electronic rights with a certain confidence. This paper discusses DRM systems, their development, the content in which they are applied, and controversies generated in relation to matters such as the right to privacy.

Abstract

Electronic books have experienced a series of transformations throughout 2014 that affec the entire value chain of the book –authors, publishers, libraries and readers-. Some of the movements begun in previous years were consolidated in 2014, such as growth in the worldwide production of electronic books, development of new reading devices, or increases in digital reading and digital library loans. At the same time new aspects emerged, including strong development of mobile and connected reading, self publishing or business models associated with streaming modes for reading and subscription. These processes are analyzed and the scope and future possibilities are assessed.

Abstract

The distribution of electronic books is being transformed from the sale of individual titles to a subscription model, and many subscription services have been created in recent years. The main services are described and compared, detailing their advantages and disadvantages. More than the number of titles offered, their success depends on their ability to retai users, providing value-added services such as customization, recommendations, discovery, and opinion sharing.

Abstract

This work presents trends and models for electronic publishing of nonfiction books, with emphasis on education resources. The context of institutional publishers (universities, cultural centres) is outlined, from the point of view of global online publishing strategies that try to improve productivity by combining technologies and open licenses, innovations in format, and content repurposing and reuse.

Abstract

A review of the major characteristics of e-books, both as reading appliances and as content, includes a description of advantages and disadvantages, functionality, intellectual property, acceptance, market, and other considerations. The multiple different formats, devices and prices, and the absence of an important social base of users of this kind of device dedicated only to reading, make the e-book a product with a still uncertain future.