CDL: Ebook enthusiasm (response 7)

Re: CDL: Ebook enthusiasm/acceptability/use

I do not think that recounting specific anecdotes are useful or even particularly informative.  Rather, in my view integrating the aggregate experiences of library users as we understand them and indicating the variable and evolving nature of e-books would be much more valuable and likely to advance our collective understanding of e-books.

Within this context, let me volunteer the following observations of general applicability:

   *   • Patrons and libraries need both print and e-books;
   *   • While patrons typically do not demand e-books, they will use them when available;
   *   • Patrons are more likely to access e-books than check out print, although these two types of uses are not necessarily equivalent;
   *   • While many patrons access electronic versions of monographs as check out paper, print circulation of corresponding titles may not decline—or decline less than would be expected;
   *   • All four of these above phenomena are largely explained by the fact people almost invariably prefer the electronic versions for certain kinds of quick study and consultation but often prefer paper versions for long, linear reading:  that is, users want to interact with the same texts in different ways, depending on the task and the stage in the research process;
   *   • Generally, e-books and their print analogs do not so much compete as complement one another;
   *   • E-books’ ease of use and utility and their subsequent level of acceptance vary greatly by provider;
   *   • Acceptance of e-books varies by subject and demographic, especially among the professoriate where younger faculty are much more willing to use e-books and much less likely to request that the library duplicate an existing e-book with a print copy;
   *   • With the passage of time, e-books will become increasingly accepted if not expected in lieu of print;
   *   • E-books will continues to get better and are now or shortly in the future will be better than print—even for subjects where they are most problematic, e.g., see Art Books & eBooks:  A Difficult Conversation - Metropolitan Museum of Art video athttp://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia/video/lectures/art-books-and-ebooks-1<%22>.

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Luke Swindler                                Collections Management Officer
Davis Library    CB #3918luke_swindler_at_unc.edu<mailto:luke_swindler_at_unc.edu>
University of North Carolina                            TEL (919-962-1095)
Chapel Hill, NC  27514   USA                        FAX (919-962-4450)
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