Flexibility With eBooks

I appreciate the ability to borrow eBooks from my public library with a tap on an app. I am not currently able to make it as easy as that for my law firm library users who wish to review legal texts with mobile devices. Times are changing though and law firms are buying eBooks.

At the Canadian Association of Law Libraries Conference earlier this month, there were plenty of discussions about eBooks. A roundtable discussion that was blogged about, a session that included Bess Reynolds (author of The Challenges of E-books in Law Firm Libraries), and many chats with vendors and colleagues.

Flexibility is key to dealing with technology changes. Legal publishers are finding new delivery models for eBooks. Some are investing in apps, some in sharing tools, and all are looking for ways that will work best with their customers. I am happy to work in a market where the focus is on partnerships between vendors and clients for the benefit of both.

One publisher that has a new focus on the legal professional market is Emond Montgomery. Their approach to eBooks is useful for law firm librarians who are struggling to find ways to deliver eBooks with a ‘one title for many potential users’ model. Emond’s eBooks can be purchased as unrestricted PDFs for Intranet hosting. The model is a license for a one time purchase and the title becomes available to anyone in the organization – just like a print publication. Emond is also offering the traditional model for eBook purchases as well, a PDF with digital rights management that restricts it to one user’s devices. Emond is not specifically advertising this flexible eBook purchase option on their website.

Conversations with vendors at conferences are extremely useful. It is certainly a reminder that we can be flexible.