Alan S. Inouye

The American Library Association (ALA) has just introduced a new supplement to its American Libraries magazine, entitled “Digital Discoveries.” This is designed, according to Alan S. Inouye, guest editor of the digital supplement and director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP), to help librarians cope with the “many formidable […]

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Washington, D.C.-Leading library visionaries and experts discuss trends in digital content technology and the current state of library ebook lending in "Digital Discoveries," a new digital supplement from American Libraries magazine.

"There is some reason for optimism," said Alan S. Inouye, guest editor of the digital supplement and director of the American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP). "However, there remain many formidable challenges and exciting opportunities for libraries within the digital content realm in the coming years."

The standoff between publishers and libraries over e-books is rapidly easing.

On Wednesday, Hachette Book Group became the fourth major publisher this year to announce it was expanding its digital offerings to libraries. Hachette, whose authors include Stephenie Meyer and Malcolm Gladwell, will offer its entire e-catalog to libraries after two years of pilot programs. New books will be available simultaneously in paper and e-editions, a policy also recently adapted by Penguin Group (USA). Hachette, Penguin and other publishers had previously restricted newer works out of concern for lost sales.