On Wednesday, October 17, Library Journal and School Library Journal will host “The Digital Shift: Libraries, Ebooks and Beyond,” our 3rd annual ebook summit. This online, all-day program will explore how libraries are navigating the transition from print to digital and integrating “e” into collections, catalogs and classrooms.
Distributor Ingram Content Group is a gold sponsor of the event, and LJ asked Rich Rosy, vice president and general manager of Ingram Library Services, to discuss MyiLibrary, CoreSource, iPage, and more.
LJ: What is MyiLibrary?
Rosy: MyiLibrary® is Ingram’s comprehensive online e-content platform for libraries. Our established platform has grown year-over-year since inception, and what sets MyiLibrary apart from other e-content platforms is our substantial title offering, the ease of use of the platform, and our innovative acquisition plans. With MyiLibrary, library patrons can access content 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the world; download to personal readers; cross-reference material; save searches; create bookmarks; and add notes.
Ingram is well positioned to help publishers and libraries take advantage of emerging trends in the market, no matter where or what the delivery option, and we look forward to working with our publisher clients and library customers to get books and content into the hands of consumers.
We know MyiLibrary is very strong in the academic market – how has your rollout into the public library market with MyiLibrary been going?
Our roll out has been very successful and we’ve seen a lot of interest from public libraries since we presented the prototype of our new content wall at ALA in June. Since our ALA introduction inquiries about our MyiLibrary platform from public libraries have doubled. We are in the process of integrating new public library customers, and we continue to grow and diversify our title database of more than 360,000 titles. We are adding a substantial amount of content from publishers like Harlequin and others that we know will be attractive to public library patrons.
It is reasonable to say that it is going to be a print and digital world, and our objective at Ingram is to make content available to libraries, whether in an efficient print-on-demand format, through traditional physical distribution, or digitally through our MyiLibrary e-book platform, to the tens of thousands of libraries we work with around the world.
What kind of advantage does CoreSource give you in terms of content development?
Ingram is dedicated to serving publishers and the needs they have today—from e-book storage, e-book delivery, print-on-demand services to total logistics partnerships. One of the strengths we have as Ingram is that we have a large group of content acquisition associates who work with publishers to secure print and electronic content. CoreSource®, our digital asset management and distribution system that publishers use as a repository, and our print-on-demand business unit Lightning Source, are also resources we use with publishers to determine if there are titles that might work well in the public library channel. We have a good amount of public library content in our collection—Frommers travel books, Wiley Dummies Guides, cookbooks, fiction, romance and other genres.
What is your outlook on Big Six participation in library lending?
Library lending is an important topic, and meetings are happening at all levels between publishers, various library groups and aggregators. Once standard business models and appropriate pricing models are in place, we believe publishers will see the benefit of library lending. From an industry perspective, there is still a lot of work to do but Ingram is dedicated to serving both publishers and libraries and the specific needs of each. Ingram has a place at the discussion table and we hope our contribution will be of great benefit to both parties.
Are you still exploring using web services to achieve greater ILS integration?
Absolutely, yes we are exploring. Ingram offers an ordering interface called iPage® that provides librarians with a solution to order, search and compare electronic and print material simultaneously, a feature many librarians desire. We are currently in discussions with notable integrated library systems, and already have relationships with Summon from Serial Solutions, Xlibris, and others.
With a full day of programming, including tracks designed specifically for public, academic and school libraries, professionals from administrative to administrators will find a wealth of new information, innovative ideas and best practices to put to use in their own libraries at The Digital Shift: Libraries, Ebooks and Beyond. Register at www.thedigitalshift.com/events/ebooks-and-beyond/
