2014 Charleston Library Conference

The University Library at Northumbria University in the UK has been using PDA as part of wider ebook collection development and across multiple platforms for a number of years. Recently, a new approach using the EBL platform, including delivery by interloans and periodised resource description for targeted discovery in response to community feedback, has proved successful in addressing the significant challenges PDA brings; namely maximizing access to content while ensuring financial sustainability of library budgets and avoiding the creation of barriers to access for users. The use of STL ebooks to augment PDA and interloans has been explored to these ends as well. These innovations have taken place within the University Library’s Digital First framework, which provides a holistic approach that stresses connectivity across the whole library experience rather than limiting strategy to the ‘online’ concept.

The objective of the session is to share innovation and experience on ebook collection development and delivery in an academic library within the context of a digital strategy. Attendees will learn about multiple ways PDA and STL ebooks can be delivered to users as part of a strategic approach. Part of the value of this session lies in an overseas perspective, and where challenges and opportunities in UK academic libraries are similar or different.