Many libraries have not taken the plunge into offering e-books yet, and for those that have, most are only offering text e-books. When planning a library’s materials budget, it’s important to recognize the financial and other benefits of e-books.

E-books are available 24/7 through the library’s website, even when the physical library is closed. If a user wants the latest Stephen King book at 2pm on a Sunday, your library may be closed, but the e-book version is still available for download.

E-books also offer true cost savings for libraries. Print books require processing, wear out and require replacement or repair, and can be lost or stolen. This is not the case with e-books. There is no processing other than loading a MARC record into your catalog (which usually comes from the vendor directly); e-books can’t wear out or be lost or stolen. In addition, some vendors offer unlimited simultaneous uses of the same title.

E-books save time and space. You don’t have to re-shelve an e-book—once “returned,” it’s right back on the virtual shelf. There is also no staff needed for the check-out process, which is completely automated and handled by the user directly. Because the book is virtual and the shelf is virtual, there is no space required in your physical library to house the materials. At a time when most libraries are scraping for every inch of shelf space, this is attractive.

Introducing e-books into your collection can reach new users in your community. This is particularly the case for “remote-only users,” who may have stepped foot in the physical library once to get their library cards, and only use the library’s remotely accessible services like the online databases and chat reference services. E-books can help libraries overcome service barriers, including geographical ones, for users who can be miles away from their library. This is particularly relevant for rural libraries and academic library service for distance education programs.

Libraries can also use e-books to increase support for the Library by marketing targeted collections to local groups. One might market business and finance books to local businessmen, books read in English classes to the schools, technology books to tech groups, children’s books to parents, and bestsellers to local book clubs. See what these groups are reading in print and market the e-book editions to them as well. Finally, e-books have a high appeal for persons with vision or mobility disabilities. e-books offer many features that printed books do not: the ability to increase font size, move through pages with a click of the mouse, and translate the text to audio using special software. Many libraries have found that their most vocal supporters of e-books come from the disabled community. Marketing your resources to local disability resource and rights groups is one more way to reach out to the community.