Adobe eBooks Go on Loan at Libraries

"Adobe Systems released Content Server 3.0, software that lets libraries loan and distribute eBooks written in the company's Portable Document Format. Content server lets administrators offer subscriptions, set expiration dates that disable the eBook on the borrower's computer, and provides packaging and encryption options for Internet delivery.

Content Server is available through eBook software providers Ebrary, Baker & Taylor, Follett and NetLibrary; through Adobe distributors including OverDrive; or from Adobe's eBooks Web site. The software costs $5,000 per site hosting as many as 250 eBooks, and $1,000 for every additional 500 titles." [ZDNet, via LibraryPlanet.com]

It's about freaking time! I thought this project had died because it's been so long since I've heard anything about it. It's great to see that it's alive and kicking, though. Why? Because there is no mass market for ebooks yet. The way to create one? Introduce them to the average reader via libraries. Adobe is smart to be the first one into the void, because they've got a pretty strong brand (despite other problems with the PDF format, including the fact that it's proprietary). Also, the ebrary connection is interesting. More on them in the future.

Unfortunately, the bulk number of public libraries can't afford it unless they band together and go for a group purchase. We'll have to keep an eye on this at SLS.