Electronic Book Use in a Public Library

This article reports on a study which aimed to investigate the potential for portable electronic book (e-book) devices within a public library context. The main method of data collection was a questionnaire distributed to all readers who borrowed a device during the project. Results are discussed in terms of (a) the users’ reaction to the device and the process of reading from it, and (b) the institutional considerations encountered by the collaborating librarians. It is not clear from the outcomes that portable e-books provide a viable delivery mechanism within a public library.