Virtually there?: E-books in UK academic libraries

Abstract

This article presents the results from a recent survey into the provision of electronic books within academic libraries in the UK. Where relevant the results are supplemented by data from two other surveys concerned with e-book provision and electronic information services undertaken by the authors. Incidence of provision of e-books from individual publishers and through aggregators is reported. Reasons for non-provision and attitudes towards the medium are discussed, and issues concerned with bibliographical access are explored. The article concludes with a discussion of the role and influence of the E-book Working Group set up by the UK body responsible for networking and electronic resources in higher and further education: the Joint Information Services Committee (JISC).