3M Cloud eBook System

General

Website for the 3M Cloud – Desktop apps, instructions, etc.

http://ebook.3m.com/library/patrons/

Can check out 10 books at a time.

All books are EPUB.  In talks with Amazon to include Kindle.

The readers are not renewable, not holdable, and not floating. Can only check out one at a time.  Should be returned where checked out. 

Books are checked out only when they’re downloaded.  Until then they’re only reserved – patron has the exclusive right to download them, but if a title doesn’t get downloaded within a certain time period (which can be set by SPPL), it goes back into the library and someone else can reserve it.

The 3M Cloud Library communicates with patrons through Messages to the patron’s account.  When patrons log in at the Discovery Station or an app, they get a notification that there’s a message waiting. Messages might include hold notices or something library-generated. Currently there’s no email option – the only patron data 3M stores is what is needed to query the patron database successfully; they don’t want to store anything else.  3M’s long-term plan is to come up with a system where they’d work with the library’s ILS and have the ILS contact patrons through standard library channels. A short-term fix might be to let patrons opt in for emails from 3M and provide an email address.

This is a beta, meaning 3M are looking for feedback so they can tweak and improve the system.  Please be generous with your constructive opinions. Send feedback to SPPLWeb@ci.stpaul.mn.us

SPPL’s Digital Library

The store has Channels, Lists, Categories, Search, and My Books.

• My Books shows what you have on your digital bookshelf – what you have reserved and what you have checked out.
• Channels are library-determined – newly added, popular, etc.  Some are automatically populated from our stats, some can be filled manually. 
• Lists show the channels in vertical list format as opposed to the horizontal ribbons of Channels. 
• Categories organize our books by subject. 
• Search … lets you search.  There is an option to only search for items that are available.

SPPL has the option of having the titles shown to include the entire 3M Cloud Library inventory or just what we own.  The entire inventory option gives patrons the Add to Wish List option that’s basically a request for purchase.  We can view the stats and use that data for purchasing decisions.  SPPL has chosen to show the complete inventory.  So patrons will see titles that SPPL does not own and are not available for check out. They will be clearly marked.

Click on the cover of a book to access its record.  If the green Check-Out bar is there, you can check out the title by clicking on the bar.  If it says Add to Queue, you can place a hold on it.  SPPL will set a length of time for items to be held for a patron.

The collection currently has a 90% overlap with Overdrive.  The other 10% are small publishers and 3M is working on adding them to their library.  3M is almost finished with the contract process with a large publisher Overdrive does not have access to, and that only beta users (that’s us) will have access to.  They’re also in talks with Penguin.

Apps

There are apps for Android and Apple smart devices available now through the respective official app stores.  There will be computer apps – for PC soon – they’re working out bugs - and Mac eventually, available through the 3M Library website.

The apps ask for your state, your library, and whatever basic info 3M needs to verify with the patron database – name and library card #.   You only have to provide this information once, after that it’s part of the app’s settings and is automatically applied on checkout.  These settings stay the same until deliberately changed.

You can have 5 devices per ID, and one ID at a time per app. 

You can return books early through My Books. Go to My Books in list view and you can choose from Continue Reading or Check In. My books is also where you select a book to read.

The apps will sync with the cloud and retain bookmarks, notes, and your place in a book.  If there’s no internet connectivity, there’s no syncing.  Notes and bookmarks stay in your account after you return the title.

The computer apps allow you to transfer a book to a reader via USB.  The other apps won’t. 

You can download 3M titles to any EPUB reader using the computer apps.  The software used in the library only allows downloads to the 3M readers.

You do need the Sony Library software on your computer to download books to a Sony reader.  3M is working on bypassing that.

The 3M apps only manage 3M books, not other EPUBs.

Discovery Station and Download Station

The 3M station has a scanner where patron can scan their barcode.

There’s a consistent interface between the Discovery Station and apps – they look and work the same.  The difference is that the Discovery Station only goes to the check-out/ reserve phase.  Patrons then go to the desk to download.  You can find a book, check it out, and download it through the apps.

The other half of the Discovery Station is the Download Station, software which is only on staff computers (one per library), and only usable with 3M eReaders, for now at least.

Log in with staff Cloud ID. Distinct possibility that each branch will have an ID based on the branch email.

There are two tabs – Load and Reset.

Load is for loading books onto the reader.  It asks for the patron information, and then accesses the patron’s virtual bookshelf to see what they have reserved.  Plug the reader into the computer.  Click the Transfer Books button. It doesn’t matter what order you perform these steps in. The station goes to the cloud, gets the books, wraps them in DRM, and downloads them. 

You have to transfer all the books on the virtual bookshelf – you can’t select some titles.  The patron can remove books from their bookshelf on the Discovery Station.

Reset is for when the readers are returned.  It erases all the books and returns any for which the due date has not passed.   If you forget to reset a reader, don’t worry.  Load automatically checks that it’s been done. 

Readers

There are 2 different readers – white w/keyboard and black w/out keyboard, and they have different cables. They are 2 competing designs that the beta test is being used to decide between.  After the beta test 3M will make a decision and go forward with only one.  3M wants input on the different designs, as well as on general patron usage issues with the system.

The readers are really locked down – all the features not integral to reading are unavailable – no wifi, no sound, etc. That means no syncing.  No messages – patrons have to access those on the Discovery Station.

We really want to stress to patrons that the 3M readers should only be used with the 3M system – i.e. the librarian-mediated system at the library. Books can be downloaded from another computer, but then the DRM dictates that all previously downloaded 3M books become unreadable. 

3M has no plans to market the readers separately from the Cloud system.

There will be a how-to manual for each manual both loaded on the readers and available separately.

Distribution of readers:

Central – 40 of style 1

Sun Ray – 30 of style 2

Arlington – 30 of style 2

Books can be found in the Digital Editions folder – on any device.

You can return books early on the apps, but not the reader due to lack of wifi. 

The readers will be most likely be checked out at the Mississippi desk at Central.

They can be charged by USB.

 This article can also be found in the Intranet at http://intranet.sppl.org/SPPLPortal/public-services/reference-information-services/information-services-council/ebooks-overdrive .

Melissa @ Central         

Science Fiction & eBooks Presentations @ MLA2011

At MLA 2011 I participated in 2 presentations, one on Science Fiction Readers Advisory, and one on eBooks. 

“To Boldly Go:  Fantastical Journeys through Science Fiction Readers’ Advisory” was my solo science fiction readers’ advisory presentation.  I started out by making the point that SF is literature, and, in many ways, SF RA is the same as any other sort of RA. Then I talked about how it’s different, and went through various science fiction tropes and subgenres.  In lieu of handouts, I created a blog, a Delicious account (mirrored on Diigo, due to Delicious’ recent upgrade), and a GoogleDocs page, all of which are linked here.  About 30 people attended, which is pretty good for 8:00 am, and the audience was enthusiastic and asked questions.

“E-books:  What’s All the EXCITEMENT About?” was the eBooks panel I participated in and moderated. We kept the discussion philosophical, and some of the topics discussed were what the panelists’ libraries are doing with eBooks, the future of print and eBooks, the library’s role in the future of eBooks, meeting patrons’ expectations, the library’s role in matters of patron privacy in the digital age, the availability of eBooks for lending and what are publishers thinking, anyway. The discussion was wide-ranging and enthusiastic, with lots of audience participation, and it was standing-room only.  We created a wiki including statistics, free eBook sources, and a bibliography of eBook resources. .

I also attended some interesting panels, including “The History of Copyright in 45 Minutes,” “RDA:  DOA or A-OK?  A Town Hall Debate” (on Resource Description and Access – the new cataloging system being discussed), "Things in a Flash:  The Latest Web 2.0 Tools," and the “50 in 60 Book Blast,” which covered Nordic thrillers, teen, contemporary women's fiction, fantasy and science fiction, and paranormal fiction and featured our own Barb Pierce and Jennifer Larson.  You might want to check out the MLA 2011 presentation materials. There was also fairly active tweeting and photo taking; check out the Twitter hash tag #mnlib11 and the Flickr photostream. 

Melissa @ Central.

(A version of this article also appeared in the November issue of Communique.)

EBOOKS: THE NEW NORMAL

The opening keynote of the web conference, Ebooks: The New Normal, gave us a view of the current state of the ever-shifting field of ebooks in libraries. Ian Singer, Library Journal's Vice-President, summarized their recent ebook survey:

• Public libraries have increased their library offerings 185% from 2010 to 2011. That is in spite of three major publishers, McMillan, Hachette, and Simon & Schuster, not offering ebooks to libraries yet.
• 26% of public libraries are considering circulating pre-loaded ereaders or other devices that can be used for ebooks.
• There has been 66% increase in requests for public libraries that don't have ebooks to carry them.
• 48% of public libraries not offering ebooks say they will within two years.
• General adult fiction, general non-fiction and bestsellers are the top 3 categories for public library ebooks, but children's fiction is increasing.
• 75% of public libraries say new users have been brought to libraries by ebooks.
• The top three barriers to patrons' library ebook use are: 1) They are not available for their device (may be changing, now that library books are available for Kindle); 2) Downloading is too hard; and 3) Waiting lists are too long.

The keynote panel then identified some of the main issues libraries have around ebooks:

• We may go for the cheap fix without thinking first.
• Libraries sometimes have restrictive purchasing policies-- purchase orders may not be an option with ebooks.
• The stakes are high-- libraries don't want to pay a lot of money if something will be obsolete in a year.
• There is no digital rights management standard for ebooks, which leads to access frustrations.
• Patron & library concerns are different -- they may be more concerned with easy access than privacy.
• Libraries increasingly license rather than buy.
• We need to design virtual spaces as well as physical spaces--Ebooks don't always come with catalogs that are great for searching and discovery.

John Palfrey, Vice Dean for Library and Information Resources at Harvard Law School, talked about his work on the Digital Public Library of America. The DPLA is a work in progress. They are trying to create a national digital library that would preserve our cultural heritage without being controlled by a for-profit entity such as Google. Other countries are ahead of us in this kind of project. DPLA is trying to create a Wikipedia-like community and encourage collaboration. They envision going across the country to digitize libraries' unique local collections in an RV called a "Scannabego". Computer software companies like Apple and Microsoft are already on board, but DPLA is trying to get more publishers involved, so they can create the right balance between access and copyright.  This article describes some of the issues around the DPLA.

In the program Ebooks: Strategy (not) Required, public librarians discussed their system's ebook strategies.

The King County Library uses browsing lists such as New York Times Bestsellers List and NPR reading lists as ebook discovery tools. They are committed to a 3:1 hold ratio. King County subscribes to Baker & Taylor's Axis 360. They like it because it is device-neutral, has audio and video, is good for picture-intensive titles like picture books and e-books, and they find the Blio software easier to use than Adobe Digital Editions. The main drawback is that it currently works on tablets, computers, and smartphones only, not on ereaders. They are working on having ePub files for ereaders soon--no word on the Kindle format, however.




The Richland County Public Library is very big on training and outreach, as they feel the greatest barrier to ebooks is patron ignorance of availability. They go out to businesses such as restaurants with a mobile lab containing a Nook, iPad, Kindle, mobile Internet hotspot, and laptop and do ebook training. Richland County uses volunteers for some of the training and partners with nearby libraries. They also have "gadget galleries" with coffee and treats, where patrons can try out devices. This training has increased their circulation of ebooks. Richland County is also interested in the 3M Cloud Library because it provides ereaders to check out as well as ebooks.

The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library is taking a look where their circulation is falling and buying ebooks instead. We have always had to replace old formats with new--compact discs replaced LP's, DVD's replaced videocassettes, the Internet replaced the need for international newspapers and some types of reference books. They have found that patrons read different types of books on e-readers--they may be embarrassed to be seen with a lurid romance cover, but there are no covers on Kindles. Indianapolis-Marion County has not seen a decrease in the hold list for print books, just a total rise in circulation as ebooks are added.

 


I will leave you with some quotes from the conference's chat and Twitter to think about:

"Only 9% of ebook audience think about going to the library. How are we going to make ourselves relevant for digital content?”

"Crazy that publishers don't even know that librarians are doing the best market research - Readers' Advisory research.”

" We are dealing with a patron population that may be more tech savvy than our staff."







A recording of this conference will be available on the Intranet until January 12, 2012.

--Andrea @ Central

Notes from Gadgets: Personal Electronics for your Library (a webinar from WebJunction)

I have just been dragged into the 21st century via a webinar that purported to talk about Gadgets, and ended up being a 603-(yes, that is not a misprint)-way conversation in chat.
While the presenter was talking to us, there was a live chat stream going on the right hand side of the screen and while the presenter was talking quite a few of the participants were holding their own conversations about their own favorites, preferences and experiences with those gadgets. And to top it all off, many of those same participants were also tweeting at the same time. It amazed even the presenter and staff taking part in the webinar.

The presenter, Jason Griffey, is the head of library information technology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and author of the April issue of Library Technology Reports on the topic of "Gadgets and Gizmos". He is also a blogger.

His part of the presentation was basically an overview of the new tablet style of personal electronics. Since that was his focus, much of the 55 minute presentation felt like an extended commercial for the iPad. But some of the points he made are enumerated here.

1) Since the advent of these personal devices, the container and the content have become separate issues. In the good old days, a book was both container and content. Now there might be many separate containers which house the same content in different ways.

2) Media used to be one discrete medium-either text or video or audio. In the near future, a lot of content may be multimedia.

3) What used to be simply read is now heading towards interactivity....when people can change, or even create content with the container, it changes the game of librarianship significantly.

4) With the advent of the new tablets, your display and your interface are the same, there are no external parts, such as a keyboard or mouse. This brings in a new era of portability for everyone. Jason believes that touch electronics are the way all electronics will be in the future. The participants in the chat were not so sure.

5) Over the course of the next 12 months there will be no less than a dozen competitors for the iPad coming out. Of those he talked about, there is only one that may actually be a serious competitor, in his opinion. That device will be from Google and will be running ChromeOS. Google is also hoping to make these devices cheap enough to be "disposable". If they get it right, they might just have a breakthrough device on their hands, which will successfully challenge the iPad.

6) The price for e-readers is going to plummet in the next 12-18 months, because of the demand for tablets instead of readers. (Can you imagine buying a $50 e-reader and loading it with 300 classic titles and circulating that e-reader? How would you do it? How many would you need to keep up with demand?)

For those of you interested, here's the link to the whole shooting match... (chat transcript and all). Have fun!

http://www.webjunction.org/events/webinars/webinar-archives/-/articles/content/95933154


--Doris