eBook Loans: an e‐twist on a classic interlending service

Abstract

Purpose In April 2007, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI), in collaboration with Ingram MyiLibrary, launched the eBook Loan Service. The paper describes the management of challenges associated with the project as well as the background and context of the aims to eBook Loan Service model. Conclusions and future activities by the partners with regard to e‐book lending are discussed. Design/methodology/approach The paper addresses two main topics: how the eBook Loan Service model was developed, the challenges and risks, the outcomes and benefits; and to evaluate whether a project stretching across boundaries of geography and time as well as between public and commercial partners can be managed successfully. Through a literature review, the context of the e‐book lending model for libraries is addressed, as well as the challenges of virtual project management. Findings The challenges and risks associated with implementing the new service were resolved and the project was a success. Originality/value The new service delivered by this project underlines the richness of new ideas emerging in the library community to improve access to scholarly literature in the digital age. With this model of affordable short‐term access to scholarly e‐books, libraries will be in a better position to serve the just‐in‐time needs of users in the electronic environment and end‐users will have better access.