Response #3
>From Beth Jacoby <bjacoby_at_ycp.edu>
Subject Re: CDL: Ebook enthusiasm?
In my "Busting Ebook Myths" shotgun session at the Charleston Conference I
presented the results of a survey I conducted in spring 2012 among the student
body at my institution about their preference for print vs ebooks. You asked
"Has the library ebook train left the station without most students on-board?"
My survey results showed that among students age 22 or younger, half prefer
print. The reasons most cited for preferring print are:
1. Print is easier to use than ebooks (easier to navigate, mark multiple pages,
annotate, highlight, etc.)
2. I don't like reading from a screen
3. I don't have to rely on an electronic device or internet access
Interestingly, there were also a significant number of comments that seem to
point to a connection between learning style and preference for print. Such
comments include:
1. Easier to focus on content/task at hand; electronic devices offer too many
distractions
2. Easier to absorb/comprehend information on paper rather than from a monitor
3. Easier to remember content on printed page than e page
Someone in the audience at my session mentioned a connection between reading and
geo-spatial cues, i.e, where content is located on a page, etc. Until ebooks
can replicate the ease of use of print, become more standardized across
platforms and functionality, and offer solutions to the other obstacles
mentioned above, I don't think we'll see an increase in the adoption of ebooks
much above 50%.
Beth Jacoby
Collection Development Librarian
Schmidt Library
York College of Pennsylvania
441 Country Club Rd.
York, PA 17403-3651
Received on Sun Nov 18 2012 - 03:06:04 EST