In a creative risk-sharing agreement, Coutts Information Services Ltd.,
an Ingram Content Group company, has agreed with ConnectNY, a consortium
of academic libraries within New York state, to allow patrons of those
libraries full free access to the entire Coutts e-book library. Under
the agreement, ConnectNY will purchase books library patrons use.
This patron-driven book acquisition model reduces the risk that the
consortium will buy books that never circulate, a major problem for
libraries according to Bart Harloe, University Librarian at St. Lawrence
University and Administrative Coordinator for ConnectNY. Harloe estimates
nearly 40% of books libraries purchase never
leave library shelves. more
