E-book Subscription in a Distance Education Institution: A Case of Indira Gandhi National Open University, India

The present study details e-book subscriptions at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Library, New Delhi, India, and describes the various publishers and aggregators of e-books, collections, pricing models, access, functionality, and other important features of various packages. It highlights the challenges to overcome in stabilizing e-book solutions for academic libraries, especially libraries operating for the benefit of off-campus learners. The study considers the elements and strategies of e-book collection development and access which must be adopted by academic libraries, especially for distance education facilities.