JISC national e-books observatory project

Are you a textbook publisher, aggregator or higher education library interested in shaping the future of e-textbook provision in the UK?

Establishing sustainable business models for online textbooks is an imperative for the UK academic community, as well as for publishers and aggregators. In view of this, JISC Collections has commissioned an important new study:

• To explore the existing landscape in terms of the demand for and supply of e-textbooks, and the barriers to widespread provision.
• To identify business models to trial involving a selected group of publishers, aggregators, and higher education libraries.
• To make recommendations about the most appropriate e-textbook business models in terms of overall sustainability, profitability, and value for money.

The study will be informed by the findings from the JISC national e-book observatory project and previous e-book initatives- and seeks the participation of textbook publishers, e-book aggregators, and higher education institutions.

Following an invitation to tender, the study has been awarded to Content Complete Ltd and OnlyConnect Consultancy who submitted a joint bid to undertake the work. The Project Team comprises Albert Prior and Paul Harwood from Content Complete and Susanna Lob from OnlyConnect Consultancy.

The study will be undertaken in two stages. The objectives of Phase 1 (November 2008-January 2009) are:

• To capture as much information as possible about the current e-textbook landscape (including opportunities, issues and barriers) from the perspective of all the principal stakeholders.
• To select publishers, libraries and e-book aggregators interested in participating in trials of a range of identified business models.

Are you interested in participating in Phase 1?

If you are a textbook publisher, e-book aggregator or higher education institution and you are interested in participating in the Phase 1 of the project, please contact Content complete and Only Connect Consultancy on e-textbooks@onlyconnectconsultancy.com

A report on Phase 1 of the project will be submitted to JISC’s E-book Working Group in early February 2009. The report will also be shared with participants (excluding any data offered by any party which is considered to be confidential).

Participants in Phase 1 will also be considered for inclusion in Phase 2 of the study (business model trials) for which funding will be available.

What happens next?

Based on the findings of the Phase 1 report, JISC Collections will decide how best to proceed with Phase 2 – for example which business models should be trialled, and over what period, and which publishers, aggregators and higher education libraries should be considered for inclusion.

Contact e-textbooks@onlyconnectconsultancy.com to register your interest!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Paul Harwood, Albert Prior and Susanna Lob

^ Top