EBL
EBook Library (EBL) is an Australian company which has pioneered the provision of eBook content specifically to Academic and Specialist libraries. EBL also offer general non-fiction titles suitable for public libraries and a recent development has been the inclusion of general fiction sourced from Allen and Unwin. In January 2013 Proquest announced that they have purchased EBL and that the EBL platform will eventually be merged with the Ebrary platform.
In January 2014 ReadersFirst published, A Guide to Library E-Book Vendors which is available for free. The guide will be particularly useful to those libraries that do not as yet offer eBooks to their communities and libraries contemplating expanding their existing offerings. eBook vendors are objectively rated in accordance to the key principals advocated by the ReadersFirst coalition.
| Pay Model | Various models including subscription, title by title purchase, pay-per-view, patron driven acquisition |
| Ownership Model | No |
| Administration Fee |
awaiting information from vendor |
| Publisher Content | EBL participating Publishers April 2013 |
| Compatible with eReaders | PDF, ePub capable eReaders, tablets, smartphones and computers. |
| Compatible with Kindle | no |
| File Formats | PDF ePub |
| Simultaneous/unlimited checkout | yes (various acquisition models facilitate unlimited access) |
| Audio Books | no |
| Download Method | Adobe Digital Editions required or Bluefire App for smartphones |
| Deep catalogue Integration | unknown awaiting further information |
| App for Android | yes |
| App for iPhone | yes |
| Software Ease of Setup | unknown (data to be obtained from current clients) |
| Platform Authentication | Referring URL, EZPROXY |
| Software ease of use for library patron |
unknown awaiting further information |
| Subscribing NSW Public Libraries |
Lane Cove Library, Leichardt Library Manly Library, Mosman Library, North Sydney Library, Newcastle Library, State Library of New South Wales, Willoughby Library. If your Library Service offers this service and is not listed please contact Ross Balharrie ross.balharrie@sl.nsw.gov.au . If you library no longer offers this platform please notify Ross Balharrie ross.balharrie@sl.nsw.gov.au |