Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

In 2012, Kent State University Libraries (KSUL) conducted a pilot project for a patron-driven acquisitions (PDA) ebook purchasing model. Using this model, the library was able to provide its users with a selective pool of discovery records that closely matched the specifications of the library's print approval plan. This article reports the assessment of the PDA model as compared to that of the print books approval model and examines the role of the library catalog as a tool for ebook discovery and access. As ebooks continue to become a more prominent format in academic library collections, a large body of professional literature is emerging that informs and guides librarians about various ebook acquisition models such as PDA. At KSUL, the discovery pool of PDAehook records in the catalog is the primary gateway for the PDA model for ehooks. KSUL catalog server transaction logs record the clicks of ebook access links in the full bibliographic records toward ebooks at the ebrary platform.