Saturday, August 30, 2014

Aussie Libraries Testing 'Buy It Now' Buttons

Shelf Awareness

The Australian Library and Information Association, Australian Booksellers Association and Public Library Services South Australia announced plans for a "proof of concept trial" in coming months for "buy it now" buttons in library catalogues, Books+Publishing reported. If the trial is successful, a national rollout is planned for 2015-16.

In a statement, the ALIA explained: "If a library user finds that the book they want to borrow is on a wait list, or they come across a book they want to own on the library catalogue, they can click on 'buy it now' and they will be given options to buy the print or e-book from a choice of physical and online Australian retailers with price and availability information."

ALIA and the ABA have met with "a range of interested parties, including representatives of Boomerang Books, Dillons Norwood Bookshop, ALS Library Services and the three partners," and "will be talking to the Australian Publishers Association, e-lending software providers, library management systems vendors, POS providers and their members."

"We hope that the 'buy it now' button will deliver real benefits to users and revenue to authors, publishers, booksellers and libraries,' said ALIA CEO Sue McKerracher.

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