E-books in the mobile age: advocacy and acceptance in India

What is it about?

This paper attempts to understand e-books’ popularity in India and potential to reach huge number of readers due to consumption through mobile phones and iPods. The mobile age has brought tremendous scope for reading on handheld devices in a highly populated country like India, as low cost devices are within the reach of almost every citizen. The technology and expertise for digitisation in India correlate with not only digital savvy but also multimedia and animation skilled work force altogether developed an ecosystem favourable for e-book production. Additionally, the advent of e-book readers supporting regional language has revolutionized the reading in a multilingual country like India. To accomplish the goal of this study the author used a mixed method of study: an analysis of the academic literature, data collection through personal interaction, questionnaire survey, and Hindi literature web sites to understand users’ perceptions on potential of mobile devices on access to regional content, and strategies for promoting e-books. The author’s survey on students, and observation/ discussion with faculty members on popularity and future e-books in Hindi language are highlighted.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This paper presents an overview of e-book landscape in India; the author examines the barriers to wide spread adoption of e-books and discusses the importance for libraries to raise awareness on e-books through advocacy and marketing. The paper focuses on availability of regional language e-book readers to promote reading culture; e-books consortia initiatives to reduce the digital gap and barriers towards development of e-book collection in libraries.