SDSL's Cornerstone Newsletter

South Dakota State Library's e-newsletter

December 22, 2022

Better Together – Library eBook Consortium

From the desk of Kim Bonen, Electronic Resources Coordinator...


Did you know that providing eBooks for your patrons is an achievable goal – even for small, rural libraries? There are several consortia in South Dakota that can help lessen the burden of your library’s eBook and audiobook collection development.


For Public Libraries:


For School Libraries

group of people collaborating with light bulb, puzzle, computers and screens

What is an eBook Consortium and how can it benefit your library?

An eBook consortium runs on a pool of shared funds used to acquire e-content that is accessible by all members of the consortium. Digital titles are jointly owned by the consortium. Each member library pays an annual fee to fund the consortium collection that would otherwise be too expensive for any one library on its own.


Some advantages for individual libraries:

  • Patrons have access to more resources.
  • Less time spent and less cost on licensing eBooks.
  • Being part of a collaborative effort – many voices are louder than one!

About SDSL

The South Dakota State Library provides leadership for innovation and excellence in libraries and services to state government.

The SDSL does not endorse any service or product listed in this newsletter.