New Online: Handbook on Comparative E-lending Policies in European Public Libraries

From EBLIDA (European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations):

This Handbook overhauls current stereotypes about e-lending. The studies and investigations quoted in the Handbook demonstrate that e-lending in libraries is a formidable instrument for promoting e-books.Results may be short of sensational: when promoted by libraries, an individual title may see a 818% growth in e-book sales and 201% growth in print sales.

The number of e-lending transactions, measured in relation to the number of inhabitants, also shows that the market for e-loan transactions is now dramatically low and has to make great strides for the benefit of all actors in the e-book value chain.

The number of e-lending transactions, measured in relation to the number of inhabitants, also shows that the market for e-loan transactions is now dramatically low and has to make great strides for the benefit of all actors in the e-book value chain. It is now from 10 to 100 times lower than the number of book loans and in some cases, like in France, 400 times less.

“If e-lending transactions remain so low, how can the general rate of digital literacy increase? Through which resources can a Europe that is smarter, more connected, more social and closer to its citizens enhance its penetration among an alerted citizenship?”, asks Ton van Vlimmeren, President EBLIDA.

The “Handbook on comparative e-lending policies in Europe” is divided into three parts:

• PART I. includes a set of Recommendations for the European Commission, national and local authorities and e-book professionals. Giuseppe Vitiello, Director EBLIDA, is the author of the background document to the Recommendations.
• PART II. includes the Background documents.
• PART III. includes 13 Country profiles.

Please download the Recommendations, the Background documents, and the Country Profiles.

Direct to Complete Handbook

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