Change implications related to electronic educational resources

E‐books are a relatively recent addition to the online electronic resources market, and commentators are still debating their efficacy. Access to e‐books continues to develop, with numerous platforms available, and lack of standardisation an ongoing problem. However, there are potential advantages to e‐books, including easier access, speed of publication, space‐saving, and lower costs. Many university libraries are beginning to have e‐books in their collections. A research project being undertaken at Liverpool John Moores University is investigating the provision of e‐books in 127 academic libraries in the UK. Many academic libraries are providing access to e‐book resources that are free‐of‐charge, and those libraries offering e‐book subscriptions are using the World Wide Web for their platform. There are similar issues in the take‐up of e‐books to those regarding the take‐up of other electronic resources, such as e‐journals. These include changes in professional and management skills, such as collection development, marketing and evaluation, user education, technological skills and communication skills.