On 10/5/2014 9:08 AM, jsturgeon@vicksburglibrary.org wrote:
Good Morning,

I would greatly appreciate any opinions on the Project Gutenberg E-Book platform.  I am currently working on an evaluative assignment of 5 platforms.  If you can speak to any/all of the following:

-What is the user experience?  How easy is it to use this platform to find and read a book?  What works well and what doesn't work so well?
-What is the library experience?  What are pros/cons/issues you have encountered promoting this service in libraries?

Thank You For Your Time!

Joanna L. Sturgeon
MLIS Candidate - Wayne State University
Cataloger/Melcat Services
Vicksburg District Library

Joanna,
When subbing I haven't had the need to promote Project Gutenberg, however I have had other reasons to use and promote it.  It's a great way to find Public Domain material.  On my weekly storytelling blog, <http://www.StorytellingResearchLoiS>  I frequently post stories in a series I call Keeping the Public in Public Domain and, if an online source of the entire book from which the story originates is available, I include the link.  A great many of those books are on Project Gutenberg.  I also enjoy downloading many of those folklore anthologies to my e-reader as it lets me carry them with me as easily a paperback.  Thanks to Project Gutenberg I can be even in a foreign country and access stories to create a program that matches the needs of a specific audience.  I've done this several times.  Repeatedly I've also seen fellow storytellers around the world don't always have access to the library and bookstore resources we have, but Project Gutenberg can help.

Hope this helps with your assignment and if I can be of further assistance, please feel free to get in touch.
-- 
Lois Sprengnether Keel
Website:<http://www.LoiS-sez.com>,
Blog:<http://www.StorytellingResearchLoiS.com>,
and posting Detroit newspaper accounts of
Michigan's "Fighting Fifth" Civil War Infantry
at the pace they appeared 150 years ago
at<http://mich5thinfantry.net>

* Storyteller in MI Arts and Humanities Directory
* In Historical Society of Michigan Directory
<http://www.hsmichigan.org/resources/storytellers-
speakers-musicians/storyteller-
lois-sprengnether-keel/>
* State Liaison for National Storytelling Network
* Webmaster for<http://www.MichiganStorytelling.org>