When are e-books the books?

ALIA Acquisitions SA, 29 October 2004

Experiment with and develop new ways to structure content to further increase its value for our customers.
Add value for the customer - access, linkage, utility, etc. Create a rich user experience.
Make content widely available through flexible sales models and distribution channels.
Extend/increase reach into new (and existing) markets and market segments.
Create new content offerings, e.g. customised works, collections, etc.
Create workflows that allow for the simultaneous publication of print and electronic works.
Digitise our frontlist titles.

Wiley's philosophy

Customer-led development:

'Solicit customers' views, comments, suggestions to ensure we deliver the right product in the right format at the right time to meet the needs and expectations of the market.'

Opportunities

Enhanced accessibility and usefulness of content
- Discoverability - 'googl-ise'
- Searching
- Linking
- 24x7 desktop access
- Distance learning, students, field-based researchers, offsite employees, global workforce, etc.
Updating (online works)
New product development
Integration of multiple types of content, e.g. primary (research), secondary (review) and tertiary (reference)

Challenges

Workflows - editorial, production, partners, customer, etc.
Financial investment
Discoverability
Internal 'client' training, end-user awareness, usage development
Customer friendly sales models
- FTE vs. concurrent user
- Subscription vs. one-time
- Collections vs. individual titles
- Print + e bundles
- Third party vendors

Initial offering - 2001

Online books catalogue divided into three subject libraries:
- Chemistry
- Electrical engineering and telecommunications
- Life and medical sciences
Pre-packaged collections within each library, providing comprehensive overviews of each subject field
Subscription-based, giving a combination of annual and perpetual access
Confusing and inflexible

New offering - January 2005

Pick and mix on a title by title basis
Subscribe or pay once for ongoing access
Review usage and add, delete or swap
Maximum flexibility

One time fee option

Pay once for perpetual access
Build your own customised collections - add new titles at any time
Unlimited concurrent usage
Counter compliant usage stats provided
Generous discounts (7.5 to 20 per cent) depending on volume
Save shelf space
20 title minimum

Lease-to-buy option

Reduces upfront costs
Subscription rate of US$60 p.a. per title for all titles under $300
After three years: perpetual access
At renewal add, delete or swap any title
Unlimited concurrent access
Counter compliant usage stats provided
20 title minimum
Both options can be operated at the same time
Many new titles available from January 2005, including in new subject areas, e.g. physics, psychology, finance (500 new backlist; 100 new frontlist)
MARC records available for all titles
New editions treated as new titles
Print + online bundling not available at present
E-mail alerting advising of publication of new titles

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Acquisitions

E-books and the library environment