In the late 1990’s,
this new phenomena of allowing patrons to select their own eBooks bust onto the
library scene. For the most part, I believe that Patron Driven Acquisitions are
a good thing. However, there are a number of pros and cons associated with PDA initiatives.
There are several benefits of PDA.
First, patrons enjoy selecting their own books. When patrons are allowed to
choose their own books, they are more likely to read them. Next, as soon as a
book is ordered, the patron has immediate access. This is convenient, no lines
and no waiting for a book to be transferred from another library. On the other hand, only one person can check
out an eBook at a time. It seems to me, that if several people can access the Internet
simultaneously, then, several people ought to be able to read an eBook at the
same time. When patrons are just browsing books, they can trigger a purchase in
a few short clicks. This can be expensive and quickly deplete a library’s
budget. PDA’s are here to stay. Ultimately, I think it is in the best interest
of libraries to work with vendors to custom design PDA’s that is fair and
sustainable.
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