Defining a Collection Development Strategy and Evaluating Business Models for eBooks

Author: Diana Petrowicz

With a trend in switching to remote access and digital learning resources, librarians are looking into new options to cater the demands for faculty and students researching and studying from home. eBooks play an increasing part in this development and it is becoming more and more important for libraries to implement cost-effective eBook purchasing options that meet the needs of faculty, researchers and students, and ultimately provides you control and flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of your end users at your institution/college/school. Find out more about the evaluation of various business models offered by publishers, which offer a range of options such as variable concurrent user rates, discovery-related support, ongoing or limited time access models, variations in user allowances, and more.

In one of our webinars with Springer Nature’s Senior Manager Books Solutions Portfolio, Wouter van der Velde, we asked the attendees about their eBook collection development strategy. A third of the surveyed said, they were working with an eBook collection development strategy and another 30% said they did not have on. About 40% said “It’s complicated”, which corresponded with Wouter’s experience working with librarians in the field of eBook solutions. According to his experience libraries might not have specific eBook collection development strategy, but have mapped out certain criteria when deciding how to build and develop their collection.

In order to define your collection development strategy, the first step is to collect data usage, data denials and all other data available to identify areas with high and low usage. Important is also feedback from faculty, researchers and students.

Evaluate the different business models: Does the business model allow for an unlimited or a limited, limited number of concurrent users? Can one book only be used by one user, or can anyone within your organization access the same content?

Listen to the webinar recording below, where Digital Preservation Consultant Barbara Sierman’s talks about eBook preservation, followed by a panel discussion with Marcel Ottenbros, Head of Acquisition Electronic Resources at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands and Elize Rowan, Content Acquisition & Access Manager for Library & University Collections at the University of Edinburgh.

For questions, feedback or if you would like any information about Springer Nature’s flexible eBook licensing models, please email ebooks@springernature.com.

Here you can find the presentations by Barbara Sierman and Wouter van der Velde.