Below is a list of some of the major vendors of e-books for libraries, along with descriptions of what type of content they offer in terms of format and subject.
1. Apabi (text—Chinese-language e-books)
2. BWI/Follett e-books (text—BWI/Follett titles) available through Califa
3. Books 24X7 (text—IT, business, engineering, finance)
4. Ebooks Corporation (text—fiction & nonfiction, graphic novels, children’s books)
5. Ebrary (text—business, computers, scholarship, career development)
6. EBSCO BookSource Nonfiction (text—Springer, Taylor and Francis, Wiley and the Pan American Health Organization)
7. FictionWise/LibWise (text—fiction, nonfiction, children’s, business, history)
8. Gale Virtual Reference Library (text—Gale reference titles)
9. Greenwood Digital Collection (text—reference, academic, general interest)
10. Knovel Library (text—science and engineering titles with interactive tables and other unique features)
11. MyiLibrary (Ingram Digital) (text—science, technology, medicine and intergovernmental publications)
12. NetLibrary (text and audio—fiction, nonfiction, bestsellers, health, computers, classics, business, consumer law, study aids) available through Califa
13. Overdrive Digital Library Reserve (text and audio—fiction, nonfiction, bestsellers, travel, self-help, teen, children’s)
14. Ovid (text—medical, clinical, nursing, & pharmaceuticals texts)
15. Proquest Safari (text—technology, computer, coding languages, business) available through Califa
16. Springer (text—science, technology, math)
17. Tumbleweed Press (text/audio combinations—large print, children’s animated storybooks)
| E-Book Providers | Platforms | Functionality | Content | Ownership |
| Apabi | proprietary reader | Markup functionality and support for Chinese characters | Books from China | Purchase |
| BWI/Follett | Adobe Reader - no search interface | No full-text searching across titles | Books from BWI | Purchase |
| Blackwell | Adobe and html | | Blackwell | Purchase |
| Books 24X7 | Html | Internal hyperlinks | IT, business, engineering | Subscription |
| Ingram Digital Group MyiLibrary | Adobe and html | Standing orders, no download, no turnaways | Non-fiction, STM and IGO publications | Purchase |
| Ebooks Corporation | Adobe Reader | | Fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, children's | Purchase |
| Ebrary | proprietary reader | Lots of markup functionality (highlighting, notes, etc.) | Business, computers, scholarship | Purchase and subscription models |
| Ebsco Electronic Book Collections | Various | | Springer, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, and more | |
| FictionWise/LibWise | Mobipocket | | Fiction, non-fiction, children's, business, history | Subscription |
| Gale Virtual Reference Library | Html and Adobe | Integration with Gale databases | Gale reference | Purchase |
| Greenwood Digital Collection | | | Greenwood | |
| Knovel | Adobe | Interactive tables | Science and engineering | |
| Netlibrary | Adobe Reader | Download with Adobe license (extra cost) | Broadest selection with >122,000 titles available | Purchase and lease |
| OverDrive Digital Library Reserve | Adobe and Mobipocket | Library card based authentication, download only | Fiction, non-fiction, bestsellers, travel, self-help, teen, children's | Purchase |
| Ovid | | | Medical, nursing, pharmaceutical | |
| ProQuest Safari | Html and image | | IT, business, engineering | Subscription |
| Springer | Adobe Reader | | Science, technology, math | |
| TumbleReadables | Flash | Adjustable font size | Large print | Subscription |
| E-Audio Providers | Platforms | Content | Ownership |
| Alexander Street Music Online | Streaming | Classical, world, children’s, blues, and jazz music | Subscription |
| Naxos Music | Streaming | Classical and world music | Subscription |
| Netlibrary | Windows Media Player | Recorded Books with Blackstone and Books on Tape coming | Subscription |
| OverDrive Digital Library Reserve | Proprietary player with lots of functionality (downloading in parts, burn to CD etc.) | Dozens of audio publishers | Purchase and subscription |
| TumbleBookLibrary | Flash (streaming not downloadable) | Tumble Weed Press | Subscription |
| TumbleTalkingBooks | Flash (streaming not downloadable) | Fiction, non-fiction, classics, children's, Spanish | Subscription |
Tables taken from class material from " E-Books, E-Audio, and Other E-Content ," a 2006 Infopeople class supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
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