Exhibition floor, Online Information 2008
If there was a dominant theme out on the floor of this year’s
Online Information 2008 show at Olympia, it had to be the continuing rise of e-books. I conducted a brief survey of opinions from the stands and, even discounting for the tendency of suppliers to talk up their own market, it was an optimistic view that emerged.
The last year has seen barriers to adoption both financial and attitudinal subside. New tools coming into the marketplace have dramatically reduced the cost of producing e-books. Apprehensions about issues such as back-file access – if you cancel a subscription where does the e-book go? – have noticeably dwindled, according to Ebsco’s John Reid.
So which are the sectors that are adopting fastest?
It’s always suspicious (to a jaundiced marketing person’s eye) when a show organiser chooses to place a large seated cafe area at the centre of the exhibition floor.
There were some noticeable absences at this year’s Online Information exhibition at Olympia – no doubt the result of crunch-inspired budget caution – and the air of an industry bracing itself for further shocks. Continue reading 