As part of a two-year long project to understand e-book usage and take-up in all UK universities, a Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) funded scheme has selected MyiLibrary as the delivery platform.

The e-books observatory project will examine different e-book usage across academic disciplines as well as potential opportunities to increase take-up and assist with learning for both scholars and publishers.

The study will also examine what happens when e-books are made free to students, how e-books are found and the influence they have on learning. From an academic publisher’s perspective, the project will consider the impact on print sales as well as the development of possible pricing models. The best way to promote and create engaging e-books will also be focused on.

MyiLibrary is currently contracted to provide e-books nationally to the NHS, the latest project will see access on a similar scale for scholars, researchers and academics. MyiLibrary have also collaborated with a number of academic publishers including Elsevier Science, Cambridge University Press and Taylor and Francis. A total of 26 textbooks will be available to use freely and will cover Business and Management Studies, Engineering and Media Studies; each publication available was selected by academic librarians.

Commenting on the initiative, Hazel Woodward, Chair of the project’s advisory board and also university librarian at Cranfield University, said; “e-Books have enormous potential as a resource for students. But it’s fair to say that that potential has so far been untapped. The project will we hope have a major impact on the e-book publishing market and in time on libraries across the UK as they struggle to keep up with demand for taught course texts. We hope that university libraries will all become involved in this innovative and exciting project as they as well as publishers have a great deal to gain.”