In June, a group of Nebraska academic and public libraries worked together to purchase a collection of e-books from netLibrary. The Nebraska library e-book consortium pooled funds to purchase a collection of more than two thousand titles. The e-book collection will be available to library customers for loan. Similar to the loan of physical books, these books are available for a much shorter duration and to only one reader at a time. The arrival of the e-book has drawn mixed reactions.
New technologies make portable electronic reading devices a good alternative to the physical book.
These slim, light, and powerful devices eliminate portability and convenience problems. The reality is that readers will have a choice. E-books will not replace the physical book. New media will join old media. E-books should stimulate new information products.