E-Books and Echidnas: Looking Beyond the Spines

Abstract

Issues in e-book developments are examined from three perspectives. First, the role and potential of e-books in the spectrum of scholarly content in electronic form is discussed. Librarians need to bring fresh thinking to e-books instead of treating them as surrogates of print versions. Second, issues facing e-book service development at the University of New South Wales Library are described in the context of use of electronic content in research and teaching. Finally, an account of consortial activities for licensing of e-books undertaken by the Council of Australian University Librarians Electronic Information Resources Committee (CEIRC) is given.