Press Release from Primary Research Group, Inc.

E-book spending by libraries is growing rapidly in 2008 but by significantly less than in 2007, according to Library Use 
of E-books, 2008-09 Edition, (isbn 1-57440-101-7)
just published by Primary Research Group, Inc. 

Data in the report is based on a survey of 75 academic, public and special libraries. Librarians 
detail their plans on how they plan to develop their e-book collections, what they think of e-book readers 
and software, and which e-book aggregators and publishers appeal to them most and why. Other issues covered 
include: library production of e-books and collection digitization, e-book collection information literacy 
efforts, use of e-books in course reserves and inter-library loan, e-book pricing and inflation issues,
acquisition sources and strategies for e-books and other issues.
of concern to libraries and book publishers. Some of the findings of the 110 page report are: 

•	Libraries in the sample expected to renew over 77% of their current contracts.
•	Well over 81% of the sample cataloged their e-book collection and 
listed it in their online library catalog.
•	For the most part, librarians in the sample felt that their patrons were less skilled in using e-book 
collections than they were in using databases of magazine, newspaper and journal articles.  
•	The libraries in the sample had MARC records for a mean of approximately 74%
 of the e-books in their collections.
•	Many libraries reported significant use of electronic directories. 12.5% reported extensive use 
and 30% said that use was significant.  The larger libraries reported the heaviest use. 
•	Use of e-books in the hard sciences was particularly high. More than 30% of participants said that
use of e-books in the hard sciences defined as chemistry, physics and biology)was quite extensive and another 26% noted
significant use.  
•	Libraries in the sample maintained a print version for a mean of 24% of the e-books in their e-book collections.  
•	Nearly 21% of the libraries in our sample have digitized out-of-copyright books in their collections in order to 
make their contents more available to their patrons.
•	E-books account for only about 3.9% of the books on course reserve, with a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 30%.  
•	Nearly 70% of the sample’s total spending on e-books was with aggregators, while just over 24.6% of the total spending was 
spent with individual publishers.

Data is broken out by library budget size, for US and non-US libraries and for academic and non-academic libraries. 
The report presents more than 300 tables of data on e-book use by libraries, as well as analysis and commentary.  The 
report is available from Primary Research Group (www.PrimaryResearch.com) and from major book distributors.  For a list of survey
participants, table of contents and sample tables view our website at www.PrimaryResearch.com. 

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