The U.S. currently leads the world in both
ebook penetration rate and the indie share of the ebook market, but other countries are starting to catch up: in particular the other four major English - language ones (New Zealand adds another small percentage).
«According to publishers the
rate of growth and
penetration of
eBooks has slowed with value
penetration estimated to be around 15 % — 18 %, with growth closer to 20 % than the 100 % we have seen in recent years.»
The report presents 145 pages of data and commentary on a broad range of
eBook issues, including: spending on
eBooks in 2010 and anticipated spending for 2011; use levels of various kinds of
eBooks; market
penetration by various specific
eBook publishers; extent of use of aggregators vs offering by specific publishers; purchasing of individual titles; use of various channels of distribution such as traditional book jobbers and leading retail / internet based booksellers; use of
eBooks in course reserves and interlibrary loan; impact of
eBooks on print book spending; use of
eBooks in integrated search; price increases for
eBooks; contract renewal
rates for
eBooks; use of special
eBook platforms for smartphones and tablet computers; spending plans and current use of
eBook reader such as Nook, Reader and Kindle; the role played by library consortia in
eBooks; Continue reading Primary Research Group releases Library Use of
eBooks 2011 Edition →
Despite having an 84 % Internet
penetration rate, one of the world's highest for a country of nearly 50 million people, the
ebook has yet to take off, Kim said.