Library Journal/SLJ 2011 e-Book Survey

Vermont Library Community,

Please see info below concerning a survey that Library Journal (LJ) and School Library Journal (SLJ) are conducting on e-Books in libraries. Some of you may already have participated in this survey – this is a“final reminder” that I received from LJ today.

They hope to hear from all public, school and academic libraries – even from libraries that do not subscribe to or use e-Books.

I hope that there will be lots of participation from Vermont libraries so that we are represented in the final report that shows national trends. You may even win a prize!

See below for details.

Martha Reid
State Librarian
Vermont Department of Libraries
802-828-3265

Original Message

Last year LJ/SLJ benchmarked the state of ebooks in academic, public and school libraries across the United States. Some things we learned were:

  • In 2010, 94% of academic libraries offered ebooks to their users.  Academic libraries spent 7% of their materials budgets on ebooks. CIRC of ebooks was expected to rise 18% in the next 12 months.
  • 72% of public libraries had ebooks in their collections in 2010. Ebooks represented 2.5% of their materials budgets. CIRC of ebooks was expected to increase 36% in the coming year.
  • Only a third (33%) of school libraries offered ebooks to students/faculty in 2010. Almost 3% of their materials budgets were spent on ebooks. School library media specialists projected that ebook CIRC would increase 26% in the next 12 months.

Now we invite you to participate in our 2011 ebook survey.  This data will allow us to trend the changing nature of library ebook collections. Survey results will be shared in upcoming issues of LJ and SLJ as well as our October 12 ebook summit.

We want to hear from all U.S. public, academic and school libraries, even if your library currently has no ebook collection. You can view a pdf of the survey before answering (recommended!). Here’s the URL to the survey:

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/articlereview/890363-457/ebook_survey_2011.html.csp

As a thank you for completing the survey you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a Nook Color (2 Nook Colors will be given away) or a complimentary registration to our upcoming virtual ebook summit on October 12*.

You may forward this email to someone in your library with a better knowledge of your ebook collection.If you don’t know an exact answer, your best estimate will be fine.  Feel free to share this link with other libraries. All surveys will be tabulated in the aggregate and all responses are confidential.  Your information will not be added to any list for solicitation. The survey will remain open until July 31, 2011.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to be part of this important survey.

Sincerely,

Laura Girmscheid
LJ/SLJ Research Manager
lgirmscheid@mediasourceinc.com

* two Nook Colors valued at $249 each and 4 virtual ebook summit registrations (valued at $39.95 each) will be given away. Contest Ruleshttp://c0003264.cdn2.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/ContestRules2.pdf