Virtually there? E‐books in UK academic libraries

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).