Search

Purpose The study aims to analyse library user preferences in the willingness to read and pay for e-books, using a sample of both active readers (users of public library services) and non-users (the general population). Design/methodology/approach Two empirical surveys were conducted from August to November of 2019; the research sample consisted of 1,334 users from the Municipal Library of Prague and 1,101 non-users from the general Czech population. The research was focussed on e-book user preferences. The willingness to pay (WTP) for e-book services and the determinants that affect this willingness were also examined. Findings The results show the specific approach of Czech readers, whose main determinant of WTP is not the content, but the price and method of its payment (allocation). Some people prefer a cheaper annual lump sum, whereas others may prefer a charge of small regular fees. The decision to pay depends on their reading or payment habits. Originality/value This study also aims to clarify the demand for various types of digital media in Czech libraries and the preferred distribution models. Furthermore, the study determines the dependence of the preferences of library users in their WTP for e-books using different evaluation models. The originality of this study is in the evaluation of the determinants of WTP for e-books, which makes this study unique, and the findings should contribute to the expansion of existing knowledge in the field of information science. Cílem studie je analyzovat preference uživatelů knihoven v ochotě číst a platit za e-knihy na vzorku aktivních čtenářů (uživatelů služeb veřejné knihovny) i neuživatelů (obecná populace). Design/metodika/přístup Od srpna do listopadu 2019 byly provedeny dva empirické průzkumy; výzkumný vzorek tvořilo 1 334 uživatelů z Městské knihovny v Praze a 1 101 neuživatelů z běžné české populace. Výzkum byl zaměřen na preference uživatelů e-knih.

Nowadays, with the growing importance of providing digital services, public libraries offer a wide range of e-books. However, current studies show that reading preferences vary across countries, and identifying e-book demand is therefore difficult. For these reasons, this article focuses on different groups of e-book readers (pensioners, students, economically active) and on factors affecting their attitude to reading e-books, willingness to receive new library services and willingness to pay for them. For the purpose of this analysis, we are using unique data from an online questionnaire survey among readers of the Municipal Library of Prague in 2019 and own binary logistic models. The results show how e-book genres, information preferences and devices for reading e-books primarily affect selected groups of e-book readers. The unwillingness of e-book readers to pay for library services is also evident, especially among students. In the last section, we propose some practical implications that could help to library management and possibly attract more e-book readers from different groups. Cílem příspěvku je provést analýzu preferencí tří základních skupin uživatelů (spotřebitelů) knihovních služeb - tedy studentů, ekonomicky aktivních osob a důchodců. Výsledky ukazují, jak žánry e-knih, informační preference a zařízení pro čtení e-knih primárně ovlivňují vybrané skupiny čtenářů e-knih. Zjevná je také neochota čtenářů elektronických knih platit za služby knihovny, zejména mezi studenty. V poslední části navrhujeme některé praktické důsledky, které by mohly pomoci při správě knihoven a případně přilákat více čtenářů elektronických knih z různých skupin.

The topic of this thesis focuses on the online services in the National Technical Library in Prague including e-books, the acquisition of e-magazines through consortiums and the different search catalogues that are available to users. The thesis also provides an overview of other services offered such as the TECH Subject Gateway, the Virtual Polytechnic Library, the National Repository of Grey Literature, eBooks on Demand and Ask you Library. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the current benefits of the online services for users and to determine the future direction of their development. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

One of the first Czech research papers on self-publishing. Even though unsuccessful and forbidden authors could publish a book on their own in the past, the current phenomenon of self-publishing can be arranged on-line in just a few clicks and for much cheaper. Self- publishing began to spread since circa 2005 - in the Czech Republic and abroad simultaneously. This thesis shows how the development has unfolded differently in the Czech Republic and in the USA, which is considered the cradle of this technology. The first chapter of this thesis analyzes the history of book publishing and many different ways to publish a book, and defines self-publishing. The second chapter shows how the new technologies and media influenced the expansion of self-publishing. The third chapter analyzes and puts into context some of the Czech and the American self-publishing portals, and compares the providers of these services. Many professionals - editors, authors, and literary critics - criticize self-publishing for its amateurism and low quality content, which this work takes into account as well. This paper also documents some of the rare cases of self-published authors, who managed to succeed despite the tough competition from traditional publishing houses. In the last chapter the whole process of self-publishing...

The aim of the thesis named Communication Activities of the Publishing House Kniha Zlín in 2011-2012 is to deal with the marketing communication of the modern publishing house in Zlín. The publishing company wishes to present so called young literature of the highest quality that appears mostly on the European market to the Czech readers. Kniha Zlín has been present on the Czech market for 8 years, however, in the field of marketing the most significant breakthrough came in 2011 when Kniha Zlin started publishing e-books. I dedicate my thesis to the introduction of marketing communication of Kniha Zlin in the period 2011-2012 and also I would like to show the contribution of this publishing house in the both realms of marketing and literature. The thesis describes the birth of the publishing house, its vision, however the main emphasis is focused on marketing strategy, put in other words on communication in the on-line sphere, namely on the social networks. Besides there is space focused on the phenomenon of e-books, PR activities, unified visual style, individual editions. The stress is also put on the Scandinavian literature which was the core of the publishing interest in 2011-2012. The other topic that is discussed in the thesis is the position on the Czech book market, where Kniha Zlin in...

Thesis "Overview of Czech regional publishing houses, their meaning and place in today's book market" deals with regional publishers in the Czech Republic, their meaning and place in today's book market. The introduction defines the concept of regional publishers and determines who can be regarded as a regional publisher. In the next chapter evaluates marketing tools including the specifics of this segment of the book market. The next section presents an overview of publishers and detailed mapping quantitative and qualitative level of production. The conclusion reflects on the possibilities of development of publishing and selling their books in the future and is here summarized empirical research publishers responses to structured questions and clear charts. Keywords Regional publishers, Czech Republic, book market, marketing, e-books.

Rád bych představil projekt, na jehož spuštění momentálně pracujeme. Jedná se komunitní web určený pro spisovatele a čtenáře přinášející nový způsob, jakým budou e-booky konzumovány. Ještě před spuštěním beta verze jsme se domluvili s několika nakladatelstvími na vzájemné spolupráci. Snažíme se přinášet literaturu široké veřejnosti každý den neomezeně na času, prostoru a čtecím zařízení.

In my work I focused on small and relatively young publisher Kniha Zlín. The purpose is to provide basic information about Czech book market, history of this publisher and point on the progress of its rather specific edition profile including the current trend of e-books. On the basis of provided statistics I evaluate the success of single editions and specific titles, both paperbooks and e-books and I compare Kniha Zlín with other similar publishers. In final part of work I summarize online and offline marketing activities of Kniha Zlín and the image of publisher in media.

The bachelor thesis deals with area of electronic books. It deals with history of the industry and compares positives and negatives of electronic books versus classic books from the viewpoint of the authors as well as readers. It further analyses most frequently used formats in the Czech Republic and the way DRM is being applied against illegal transmission. It analyses different types of hardware used for reading electronic books and compares advantages and disadvantages of them. Also it informs about programmes suitable for editing, reading and management of electronic library. The practical part introduces tutorial how to work with Calibre software in terms of creation of electronic library, format conversion and synchronization of electronic books into e-reader. The main objective of the thesis is to provide complex insight into electronic books in current Czech market and introduction of effective ways of working with electronic books.

Summary of ebooks progress in National Technical Library in the year 2013.

V minulém roce se podařilo rozběhnout první nákupy českých e-knih v knihovnách. V přednášce či na workshopu bude představeno stávající portfolio platforem s nabídkou českých e-knih a popsány poslední aktuality z vývoje nabídky českých e-knih pro knihovny.

The aim of this bachelor thesis is to elaborate a strategy analysis of Palmknihy s.r.o. company. The first part of the document contains a basic terminology and theoretic basis used for the strategy analysis. Concerning the theoretic part the second part discloses opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses of the company. A SWOT analysis evaluates results of previous analysis' and offers foundations for strategic recommendations.

The purpose of this work is to analyze the newly grown phenomenon of electronic books and electronic publishing, to map consequences of e-books in relation to paper books and to describe its pros and cons. Also, this work tries to compare ebook readers presently available on Czech market, and to make a comparison of most frequently used e-book formats. The future of e-books in the Czech Republic can be inestimable, but this work gives the opinions of some Czech publishers, booksellers and authors, trying to suggest how the future may look like.

9. ročník konference Kniha ve 21. století, kterou pořádá Ústav bohemistiky a knihovnictví FPF SLU a Svaz knihovníků a informačních pracovníků SKIP10 – Moravskoslezský a Olomoucký kraj, se v letošním roce konal na téma „Budoucnost knihoven – trendy a směry.“ Konference byla rozdělena do několika bloků. Největším přínosem pro NTK byl především blok Metamorfóza knihy, ve kterém byly sdíleny zkušenosti s nákupem a zpřístupňováním e-knih v knihovnách. NTK momentálně aktivně řeší tuto problematiku a podílí se na vytvoření platformy pro půjčování e-knih v národním měřítku.

(english) Bachelor thesis analyzes the situation of electronic books in the Czech specialized libraries. Introductory chapters are devoted to general e-book, with a focus on scientific "e-born" monographic publications. Described are processes associated with the issue of e-books and general principles of building a library collection. I tis generally mapped the situation in the Czech specialized libraries, especially in connection with the subsidy programs of the Ministry of Education to support the infrastructure of research and development (2000-2011). Mentioned the possibility of searching e-books. Through an in-depth structured interview with a professional staff of the National Technical Library and the National Library of Medicine have found details of the acquisition, cataloguing and access to electronic books and informations are then processed and compared.

This master dissertation "Czech Electronic Book Market -- Obstacles and Opportunities" analyzes Czech market with e-books. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current situation on the market in terms of technologies, distribution models and legal issues. It describes commercial, free and illegal sources in the market, including a description of digitisation projects in Czech libraries. The thesis also includes a theoretical introduction to e-books and their development in the past. Details are discussed, focusing on technology, modern electronic readers with electronic ink. For comparison, the thesis also analyzes the U.S. market with e-books. In analytical part the individual portals with e-books on the market, their supply and user interfaces are compared. The real example analyzes the costs of an e-book and its comparison to costs of a printed book. At the end of the thesis, alternative models of distribution requirements for establishment of a new portal with e-books are characterised, the Creative Commons licenses are described and the current trend of e-journals is mentioned. Finally, I suggest recommendations especially for sellers on the Czech market describe the advantages and disadvantages of e-books in terms of individual roles in the distribution model and estimate the future market development. More detailed information related to the comparison of different types of electronic ink, a list of electronic readers that are available on the Czech e-book market at this time and specific examples of various users' interfaces that are being used on Czech e-books portals can be found in Appendix.

The aim is to analyze the electronic readers and in terms of technical and user parameters to determine how to use them to study subjects in the field of transport and handling equipment. Make a questionnaire survey among students, compared to electronic readers on the market today and make an economic overview.

The master dissertation Electronic books at VSE is focused on analysing the opportunities of e-books in the environment of VSE. The aim is to describe the current state of different study materials used at VSE and to explore different ways of improving them using e-book technology. The dissertation briefly describes various attributes of e-books with stress on the relevant attributes -- the possibility of inserting notes, bookmarks, multimedia and interactive content. Also the possibility of editing the content and sharing resulting changes with other students is a key attribute. The dissertation then moves on to describe the different kinds of study materials that are in use at VSE. The second half of the dissertation builds on previous analysis of the study materials and introduces a hypothetical optimal state, which could result from implementing e-book technology. This state is the answers the question of what is actually possible to achieve. The next chapter in this half is the technical analysis, which answers the question of how is it possible to achieve the suggested hypothetical state. The conclusion of this dissertation answers the questions whether the proposed solution is a viable candidate for implementation. The results of this dissertation could be used as a guideline for the project of implementation of e-book technology in the environment of VSE.