Best Practices

Why Aggregators Make Sense for Specialized eBook Collections

The revolution is here, but it isn't being televised. It's being accessed in hundreds of ways on hundreds of platforms from millions of unique points across the globe. The eBook revolution's place in history cannot be overstated – it's a watershed moment for content distribution on par with moveable type and the invention of the codex. Information is now everywhere, libraries have to be more nimble than ever before, and the rush to be the next big thing is more intense than that of box store doorbusters on Black Friday.

While the waves of innovation crest in every direction, specialized collection librarians may feel a little overwhelmed as they are forced to navigate the unpredictable tides of collection management. Fortunately for them, long time partners in print distribution have repositioned themselves as content aggregators, bringing years of specialized expertise to the table to inform the development of eBook solutions.

The R2 Library developed by Rittenhouse Book Distributors is an example of how a knowledgeable aggregator can be an asset to in the creation of specialized eBook collections. After decades as a traditional print distributor serving the needs of library partners, Rittenhouse was an early adopter in the eBook revolution. Before the first dry erase marker hit the white board, there were already years of specialized operations and a team of knowledgeable individuals who understand how libraries work guiding the development process. As a result, the R2 Digital Library has an intuitive interface optimized for the health sciences, with a foundation of carefully selected content from a wide range of health science publishers.

"Publishers have begun to diversify their distribution strategies to include third parties in addition to the support of their proprietary products," writes Meg White, Executive Director of Technology Services at Rittenhouse Book Distributors, in a her recent Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries article "Maximizing Use and Value of E-Books in the Medical Library." White goes onto observe that "production innovation and content aggregators have grown the total number of available eBooks in health sciences to an estimated 500,000+ in 2011."

As aggregators like Rittenhouse drive innovation and facilitate the massive shift of content distribution, specialized librarians can rely on them as partners throughout the development of eBook collections. For example, the R2 Library seeks out essential titles for health science librarians, often meaning that it contracts eBooks one at a time as is the case with the Dale Dubin's seminal (and self-published) Rapid Interpretation of EKGs. Titles like Rapid Interpretation of EKGs may be overlooked on major commercial platforms, but aggregators like Rittenhouse seek them out as essential to a specialized collection.

"Acquiring valuable content that supports patron needs, and then developing this content in context, was a core value for libraries in the past," notes White in the same article. "It remains critical today."

With their understanding of the traditional core values of specialized libraries, aggregators like Rittenhouse can help ensure that those values remain in place throughout the early stages of the eBook era. As a result, these traditional partnerships will flourish, driven by innovation, collaboration and specialization.

Founded as a retail medical bookstore in 1948, Rittenhouse Book Distributors, Inc. provides libraries, retailers and other businesses access to print and electronic books in the fields of medicine, nursing, and allied health. Through a unique collection of development tools, inventory solutions, and marketing support, Rittenhouse provides our partners the information and services they need to be successful.  Rittenhouse Book Distributors, Inc. is a privately held firm headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. www.rittenhouse.com