Vision Interview with Rob Cartolano

This vision interview with Robert Cartolano closed out the NISO Virtual Conference "Ebooks and Collections." Listen as Todd Carpenter, Executive Director, NISO interviews the Associate Vice President of Technology and Preservation at Columbia University Libraries.

Click on the arrow above to watch the embedded video or click through here to view the recorded presentation on Youtube. 

The conversation between Rob and Todd covered the following: 

1. Based on the conversations heard here today, how would you characterize the existing ecosystem for ebooks in the academic environment? 
2. What are some of the unique requirements for ebook usage in higher education or in a research setting? Are there specific expectations held by students or faculty with regard to the ebook format? Where are the gaps between user expectations and the actual reading experience?
3. You’ve spoken enthusiastically in the past about the SimplyE reading app and the implementation of a pilot program at Columbia. Can you provide us with a quick overview of what the Columbia experience has been with the SimplyE app in 2021?
4. There’s been a great deal of interest in the library community in shifting the norms of resource-sharing in the context of ebook collections. How might the information community work towards more cooperative collection practices?
5. In your view, what are some of the long-term implications for research libraries if the user experience of ebooks were to be made more standardized?
6. What has your experience been in negotiating with publishers and aggregators in expanding access to ebooks in Columbia University Libraries? Do you find there is a willingness or commitment to accommodating some of the specific needs? 
7. Where do you see collaborative opportunities for libraries and/or content providers?