Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to describe the practical experience of managing e-books in an academic library. Design/methodology/approach: An overview of the three main e-book collections used (netLibrary, Taylor & Francis, and Ebook Library via Dawson) is provided, along with details such as the acquisition, cataloguing and maintenance of e-books; funding, licensing and authentication; varying interfaces; publicity, promotion and user education; subject coverage, statistics and usage. Findings: Variations in approach and services by the suppliers of e-books can provide challenges for those managing e-books. Originality/value: The paper provides practical details of managing e-books in an academic library that might be of relevance to others.