Change implications related to electronic educational resources

E-books are a relatively recent addition to the online electronic resources market, and commentators are still debating their efficacy. Access to e-books continues to develop, with numerous platforms available, and lack of standardisation an ongoing problem. However, there are potential advantages to e-books, including easier access, speed of publication, space-saving, and lower costs. Many university libraries are beginning to have e-books in their collections. A research project being undertaken at Liverpool John Moores University is investigating the provision of e-books in 127 academic libraries in the UK. Many academic libraries are providing access to e-book resources that are free-of-charge, and those libraries offering e-book subscriptions are using the World Wide Web for their platform. There are similar issues in the take-up of e-books to those regarding the take-up of other electronic resources, such as e-journals. These include changes in professional and management skills, such as collection development, marketing and evaluation, user education, technological skills and communication skills.