What are ebooks?	You're confused about what an ebook is? Well, it's no wonder! "ebook" is a very vague term. It has been used to refer to any of the following: The text (and sometimes the illustrations) of a book in electronic format that is meant to be read in that electronic format. The text (and sometimes the illustrations) of a book that is in electronic form in order to be printed to paper. A device used for reading electronic text, including portable ebook readers, desktop computers, laptop computers and PDAs. For more information on portable ebook readers, see http://psw.scls.lib.wi.us/ereaders.html The software on a computer or PDA used for reading electronic texts. To add to the confusion, there are a number of different formats that ebooks (the electronic texts themselves) come in. And most of these formats are not interchangeable or compatible. So, if you have "eBooks" available from netLibrary, these texts can be read through your browser or by downloading the text and using special software from netLibrary. But, these ebooks can't be read with other software designed to read other electronic texts, and the netLibrary software can't read electronic texts produced in other formats.
What is South Central doing with ebooks?	For information about ebook projects in the South Central Library System, see http://psw.scls.lib.wi.us/sclsebooks.html
Where can I find more introductions to ebooks?	There are many, many sites about ebooks. Here are a few sites to get you started: An E-book Primer By Sarah Ormes, UKOLN, on behalf of EARL, the Library Association and UKOLN. http://www.earl.org.uk/policy/issuepapers/ebook.html A great introduction to ebooks, including definitions and visions for the future of ebooks in libraries. eBook Technology Basics http://www.ebookweb.org/ebook_basics.htm "This brief overview explains the advantages of electronic books over paper, describes the major devices and programs for reading eBooks, and looks at the challenges technologists must address before eBooks can become universal." PLA Tech Notes: E-Books http://www.pla.org/technotes/ebooks.html A site dedicated to ebooks in public libraries. Ten best articles about eBooks and Publishing http://www.shylibrarian.com/ebooks/10articles.htm An up-to-date list of the best articles available on ebooks. Nine Models, One Name: Untangling the E-book Muddle. by Walt Crawford. In the September 2000 American Libraries. To access through EBSCOHost: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?AN=3518732&db=afh& Think like a patron when you consider buying E-Bookse. by Janet L Balas. In the May 2001 Computers in Libraries. To access through EBSCOHost: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?AN=4392624&db=afh& ...and ebooks for all. http://lepton.wils.wisc.edu/ebooks/ Information from Mark Beatty's ebook overview workshop.

For more information about ebooks in the South Central Library System, contact Stef Morrill.

Page created 6/13/2001.