According to a BBC report, culture minister Ed Vaizey, has asked publisher William Sieghart to lead a review on e-lending systems alongside a panel of qualified experts.
The panel is expected to consider a range of issues including the benefits of e-lending, the current level of e-lending and future demand, the impact on libraries and the effect on those who cannot keep up with changes in technology.
Vaizey said that e-lending was in its "infancy" but was "growing fast", adding influence on its growth could ensure that "libraries, authors, publishers and the public" all benefited from the valuable new service.
"Just as e-readers are transforming the way people access books, e-lending could help transform the way people use libraries," he said.
Janene Cox, president of the Society of Chief Librarians and a panellist for the upcoming review said that offering e-books in libraries would help generate new audiences.
"We need to ensure that our service reflects the changing way that people want to read and also engage with local services," she said.
Cox added: "I don't believe that they [ebooks] will replace printed books or other information sources totally but they will complement and enhance them."
The panel of experts are due to present their findings early next year.
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Quelle/Source: Public Service, 27.09.2012
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