eBooked! Integrating Free Online Book Sites into Your Library Collection

February 1, 2014

As libraries continue to face challenges with budgets and funding, the need and demand for ebooks also continues to grow. Bandy offers practical solutions to this problem by providing an in-depth look at four online ebook sites: Google Books Project, Hathi Trust, the Internet Archive, and the Open Library. He describes in great detail how libraries can use each free service in place of subscription-based resources. Individual chapters provide information on each website's history and how the service would be useful in library scenarios. At the end of each chapter, a recap is provided for quick referral. The book encourages readers to integrate these sites into their own library's services and collections. Libraries struggling to support ebook services for their patrons may find this guide useful. Most of the free services, however, work best as a supplement to paid digital content. Bandy also discusses the need for staff training to properly assist customers in the navigation of these sites. Customers would need to be reminded that the offered ebooks are not downloadable to devices and must be read online. Overall, the information provided offers a viable ebook solution for cash-strapped libraries.-Allison Santos, Princeton Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2014

Bandy (www.libraryknowledge.com) has created a staff training manual that will interest reference librarians at both public and academic libraries. Through a combination of screenshots, sample scenarios, and search activities, readers will gain a better understanding of four free ebook websites--Google Books, HathiTrust, Internet Archive, and Open Library--which are covered in a chapter each. An additional section lists and discusses other websites that provide free ebook content, offering background information and search strategies. While mention is made of application programming interface (API) options for including these resources in libraries' websites and catalogs, the focus of eBooked! is each site's native search interface. Bandy offers guidance on conducting successful reference interviews using each source as the primary method of connecting these online offerings to patrons. What the book lacks, however, are specific examples of libraries that have integrated these resources into their catalogs. VERDICT Bandy provides specific, useful search activities for getting the most out of the freely available ebook content on the Internet today; the information included is perfect for reference staff training and is sure to make all who read the book comfortable with the scope of free material available.--Kendra Auberry, Indian River State Coll. Lib., Port St. Lucie, FL

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.