When did (E)-Books Become Serials?

This session explored how e-books are more serial-like than traditional printed books. The book “container” is eroding now that publishers supply abstracts, MARC records, and DOIs at the chapter level. Booksellers offer e-book packages that can be leased with annual renewal costs and options to trade content in and out. Libraries have to adjust workflow and budgets to handle monographic content that has continuing costs and may not be permanently owned. The panel presented viewpoints of the differences and similarities between e-books and e-journals from the perspectives of a librarian in a consortium, a bookseller/e-book aggregator, a knowledgebase creator and researcher, and a consultant to libraries. The challenges of e-books were highlighted and audience discussion was encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]