NetLibrary and California State University moving forward in exploring new eBook access models
BOULDER, COLO. – August 29, 2001 – In a statement issued today, California State University responded to a recent article appearing
in the Chronicle of Higher Education that resulted in confusion regarding the pilot eBook project under study with NetLibrary, Inc.
NetLibrary, the leading provider of eBooks and Internet-based content/collection management services,
has been actively working with a number of publishers, libraries and consortia over the past several months to
test alternative access models designed to better serve library patron needs without compromising publisher
business models or the established relationships with NetLibrary.
“As the study period progresses so that data accumulate sufficient to generate meaningful results from
these tests, NetLibrary and its research partners are committed to reporting their findings along with the
background on these projects,” said Marge Gammon, Sr. Director of Marketing at NetLibrary. “At no
time, however, were our current relationships with libraries or publishers compromised by any of our pilot
research projects, and we believe the results will be important and useful for all our business partners as we
continue to establish and grow the library eBook market,” said Gammon.
“NetLibrary joins with California State University in expressing its disappointment in recent coverage of its
research efforts,” said Gammon. A statement from California State University is attached.
An Open Letter from California State University in response to The Chronicle of Higher Education
I am concerned and disappointed in the article regarding the California State University and NetLibrary appearing in the
August 14 Information Technology edition of The Chronicle for Higher Education. Regretfully, what started as a discussion
about the positive influence consortia and large buying groups can have in bringing innovative products, services, and
business models to the library world, resulted in a portrayal of our relationship with NetLibrary, Inc. that is not entirely
accurate in its description of the project currently in place, or of our positive working relationship.
A number of eBook access models are being tested by NetLibrary and others in the industry. They are complex and often not
as simple in their design or execution as may have been implied. It is not possible to use the terms “Simultaneous Use”,
“Multiple Use”, “Multiple Access”, among others, interchangeably without creating confusion and misunderstanding.
Cal State began discussions with NetLibrary over a year ago regarding opportunities for developing Multiple Access Models.
We jointly defined the parameters for such a test project, which also included the purchase of an equal amount of titles
under the one-book one user model. To ensure a quality patron experience, honor NetLibrary’s publisher relationships, and
minimize financial risk to all parties, a cap was placed on the number of patrons and, therefore, the number of titles that
would be included in our Multiple Access Pilot Project. Numbers would be sufficient to be able to track and compare circulation
and usage activity between both models, thereby providing NetLibrary, publishers and libraries with important, reliable data on
the new and evolving eBook category. This test is still in progress.
More recently, Cal State acquired additional eBooks from the only publisher who has now agreed to allow NetLibrary to offer
their titles on a One-Book, Simultaneous-Use Model. This purchase occurred only within recent weeks and is not part of the
original pilot project.
California State University continues to support the one-book, one-user model and half of our eBook program operates on that basis.
We also remain committed to working with NetLibrary to fully understand the benefits that alternative access models may be able to
offer. We regret any confusion and concern that comments in this article may have caused to both publishers and libraries, since,
at no time, were there any elements of this project that fell outside of the contractual relationships NetLibrary has in place with
its publishers or library customers, nor has there been anything but a positive, collaborative working relationship between NetLibrary
and the California State University System.
Evan Reader
Director, Systemwide Electronic Information Resources Group
California State University
About NetLibrary
NetLibrary (www.NetLibrary.com) is the leading provider of eBooks and
Internet-based content management services for the institutional library market. netLibary develops, archives,
hosts, and maintains eBook collections for academic, corporate, public, and school libraries. Thousands of libraries
throughout the United States and internationally are currently providing NetLibrary eBooks to their patrons. In
addition, the MetaText division of NetLibrary creates web-based digital textbooks that provide instructors and
students with a full range of interactive learning tools.
Contact:
Marge Gammon
NetLibrary
(303) 381-8799
mgammon@netlibrary.com
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