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Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
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Books in a virtual world

The evolution of the e-book and its lexicon

Chris Armstrong

Information Automation Limited, Aberystwyth, lisqual{at}cix.co.uk

Over recent years there has been considerable confusion over the use of the term `e-book', and this article examines the variety of definitions used to date while proposing a definitive construct. Beginning by examining the definitions of `book', the paper moves on to consider the essential element of a book — the content, and to examine publishing and structural aspects of e-books, as well as their place in libraries, before arriving at a final definition. The definition and its derivation embrace all of the issues that affect the way in which e-books are understood and used today. In conclusion, the article looks at both the genesis of e-books, and the stage of acceptance and adoption that they have reached, with brief reference to 3rd-generation e-book readers available at the time of writing.

Key Words: e-book definitions • e-book readers • e-books • e-resources • libraries • library collections

Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Vol. 40, No. 3, 193-206 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0961000608092554
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