When I think about libraries and ebooks, I’m reminded of the annoying (but unforgettable) slogan that New York State used to promote its lottery: “You have to be in it to win it!”

Not that libraries are likely to win anything. But if they want to continue to attract readers and remain relevant, then they need to work with publishers and vendors to create a business and distribution model that will make ebooks an everyday reality in libraries. You have to be in it to shape it.

Despite what some say, ebooks aren’t a fad, and we can’t go on pretending this is a phenomenon restricted to affluent adult consumers. This is a seismic shift in our culture that’s playing out in our own backyard. A librarian today who decides she can ignore ebooks is like an auto mechanic in the ’50s choosing to not service automatic transmissions: crazy.

Still skeptical? Just remember: you’ll never need to reshelve an ebook.

Since it’s September, a time of new beginnings, here are seven steps to help you get up to speed on ebooks. I encourage those of you who are already on your way to add your comments to the online version of this article at www.slj.com.

1. Take the plunge. Buy a Sony Reader, Kindle, or some other ereader and experience the hype firsthand. I don’t want to hear about how you love the smell of print books. And this is no time to be cheap; the prices of ereaders are tumbling, and you can probably claim it as a tax write-off. Too much of a commitment? Then buy one for your department or school and share it. Load it up with some fun reading materials and give it a whirl.

2. Start an ebook collection. If you don’t have ebooks in your collection, add some—right now. There are loads of great nonfiction titles available. Purchase some and be sure to tell students, teachers, and parents about them. Include ebooks in your lesson plans or when you’re helping kids with homework. Monitor the use of ebooks, and listen to what students like—and dislike—about this dynamic format.

3. Experiment a little. Promote ebooks as a fun way to read for pleasure. Librarians across the country are circulating these devices in pilot programs. Find the program that’s right for your library. Maybe start a book discussion group using ereaders this fall?

4. Keep an eye on innovation. Many ebooks are just digital versions of their print counterparts. But a growing number of ebooks are enhancing text with animation, interactivity, narration, sound, and other extras. These new versions are often released as apps, and they’re typically available on handheld devices like 3G phones. I have no idea how they can be integrated into library services, but their potential for engaging readers seems huge.

5. Talk to publishers, vendors, and distributors. It sometimes seems like ebooks are only being marketed to consumers, especially when it comes to pleasure reading. But remember, in children’s and young adult publishing, libraries make up a significant market share. We all need to work together to find sustainable ways to bring ebooks to library users.

6. Become the go-to person for ebooks in your school or library. Make no mistake, this area of the market is changing rapidly and keeping up with it can be time consuming. But we can’t afford to cede this opportunity to anyone else.

7. And finally, don’t forget to have fun.

To help you make the transition, School Library Journal, along with Library Journal, is sponsoring thevirtual summit “ebooks: Libraries at the Tipping Point” on Wednesday, September 29. Visit ebook-summit.com for more information.

Editor-in-Chief bkenney@mediasourceinc.com