From: Judith M Nagata <jmnagata_at_hacc.edu>
There is an interesting review article on ebooks studies in the January 2012 Reference & User Services Quarterly. We have used this article as a basis for our discussion on the actual use of ebooks:
Staiger, J. (2012). How e-books are used: A literature review of the e-book studies conducted from 2006 to 2011. Reference & User Studies Quarterly, 51(4), 355-65.
I found this particularly useful data because with very tight budgets, we need to justify the use of ebooks to our Administration. Should no one use them, we will lose the funds. We are targeting our collecting of ebooks by type (i.e. reference, skills-building texts, and technology) hoping that these are more suited to online use.
Judith
Judith M. Nagata
Electronic Resources Librarian
Library Central Services
HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College
One HACC Dr.
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Ph: (717) 221-1300, x1624
http://lib2.hacc.edu
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-----Original Message-----
From: owner-COLLDV-L_at_usc.edu [mailto:owner-COLLDV-L_at_usc.edu] On Behalf Of John P. Abbott
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2012 2:10 PM
To: COLLDV-L_at_USC.EDU
Subject: 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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Received on Wed Dec 05 2012 - 03:06:01 EST