The Digital Library October 23rd, 2009
Tom Amontree

While books will continue to be a mainstay, broadband-powered technology and the rapid rise of e-readers are prompting libraries to add digital lending to their collections.  According to a recent New York Times report, approximately 5,400 public libraries are offering e-books, as well as digitally downloadable audio books.

While the size of e-book collections are relatively small compared with print titles, circulation is accelerating and is expected to spur the ongoing growth of digital library collections nationwide.  Already, the New York Public Library offers 18,300 e-book titles.  And top e-book providers to public libraries report a spike in the number of digital book checkouts to more than 1 million this year thus far.  According to another e-book provider the circulation of e-books and digital audio books has jumped 21 percent over the past year.  Even the European Union has embraced the trend, recently launching a digital library providing access to documents in 23 languages that are up to 60 years old.

What’s fueling the trend?  A couple of things.  Our growing appetite for convenient broadband innovations combined with competition in the e-reader marketplace is driving digital book growth.  In fact, Forrester’s new eReader Holiday Outlook for 2009 projects eReader sales to reach 3 million this year alone, and expects 2010 sales to more than double – topping 10 million eReaders sold in 2009 and 2010 combined.  Furthermore, E Ink recently announced its 2009 revenues are up 250% to date this year.

What can consumers look forward to in the e-book marketplace?  Competitive pricing, a variety of choices, new and improved features such as video, and an expanding array of content.  Other benefits?  Schools may soon be able to more easily use digital textbooks – a shift that California Governor Schwarzenegger says can save the state $350 million annually.

Whether reading e-books for educational advancement or for pure pleasure, consuming books on-the-go or on your laptop is growing more compelling by the minute, and broadband is speeding these advances to consumers nationwide.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 10:44 am and is filed under Benefits of Broadband. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.