The introduction of e-books in libraries is proving to be something of a challenge with thorny technical, pricing and legal issues to overcome. So far in Latvia, little interest has been shown in e-book services by libraries for a variety of reasons, not least a lack of understanding by librarians and publishers about the legal framework for e-lending. However, as the number of e-book titles in Latvia is sure to grow, and demand for e-books in libraries will increase, it is imperative to raise awareness of the issues now, identify problems and reach agreement on a sound legal framework so that libraries are ready when the market has developed.
Read how the project team at the National Library of Latvia approached the issue, what was achieved and what lessons were learnt, as the experience is likely to resonate with libraries in other countries, especially those in smaller language markets