Sooner or later Have ebooks turned the page
Sooner or later! Have e-books turned the page? Wendy Abbott & Kate Kelly Style created by: Lisa Barker and Kate Kelly
E-book prejudices w “to the world of processed food and processed hair we now add the processed book” (Esposito, 2003) w “not some fanciful format that publishers hope will catch on among thrill-seeking librarians” (Golderman & Connolly, 2004) w “the 1980 s will see the book … begin a steady slide into oblivion” (Evans, 1979)
Overview w What exactly is an e-book? w Diversity of models under the e-book banner w Case study of E-books at Bond University w E-book implications for libraries w More research needed
What exactly is an e-book? w E-books are monographs n Similar to printed books but… l Created and distributed in an electronic format l Reader must have direct access to the digital medium (Mattison, 2002) w Either delivered and read online w Or downloaded to a hand-held device w Plus some unique features
The evolutionary record for e-books w Proliferation of commercial models w Variety of technology applications n n E-books on hand-held devices E-books online w Subject content diversity n broad-based to discipline specific w Transforming from e-book into esomething else
Bond University Case Study w Background w Private, non-profit university w Approximately 2, 700 students on campus (50/50 domestic and international students) w 6 academic units (Business, Health Sciences and Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, IT, Law & Learning Communities)
Bond University Library w Challenges in meeting information needs of a small, diverse and dynamic university environment n Provide depth & breadth for disciplinary areas taught Respond quickly to changes n Assure value for money n
Bond University Library continued… w Library is well resourced – per EFTSU allocation well above the national average w IT environment favours electronic information delivery
P-books for IT students w Library surveys indicated low usage of IT print books (up to 30% never borrowed) w Limited shelf life for IT books w Constant need to update the collection in a fast moving discipline w Reasonable uptake of electronic journals (ACM Digital Library, Ebsco’s Computer Source)
E-books for IT students w Lecturer prescribing e-book subscriptions for students instead of textbooks n Safari Books in 2002 & Books 24 x 7 in 2003 w Library trialled both Books 24 x 7 and Safari Books … n Subscription to Safari Books commenced in mid-2003 (eventually!)
What students liked about e-books w Good search functions and navigation w Ability to cut and paste w Extensive range of books n well organised material & up-to-date examples w Paper saving w Convenient (don’t have to carry heavy books) w Cheap
What students didn’t like about e-books w Difficulties reading from screen (tiring reading online) w Need a computer and internet access w Inability to take “normal” notes and highlight text
More feedback from students w Still want p-books! w Need practice to learn how to study online
Why prescribe e-textbooks? w Ensure students had online access to academically rigorous, up to date, body of information w Ensure students had access to more than one textbook w Could easily link e-textbook material into lecture program to reinforce learning
What the Lecturer found… w Student achievement not disadvantaged w Fewer “cries for help” as students had easy access to a large no. of examples w E-book service encouraged students to copy with appropriate acknowledgement w Processes for arranging subscriptions was convoluted
Library issues w Plethora of issues to resolve when negotiating licenses for e-book services w With Safari Books – possibility to modify selections w Issues about how to integrate with existing Library resources
More research needed w Issues about e-book technology n Reading online n Studying online w Effects on student achievement w Questions about how best to integrate ebooks into the learning environment
The Bond case study shows w E-books are “carefully conceived niche products with great potential to help librarians meet their users’ needs” (Golderman & Connolly, 2004) n Students welcome the additional features and web accessibility n Lecturer values quality content n Library appreciates greater flexibility
In Conclusion By working in partnership with the academic community and continuing research into the usage, applications and perceptions of e-books amongst user groups, the Library can add value to learning environments.
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