Abstract
The adoption rate of eBooks has multiplied exponentially in University libraries. Libraries prefer buying eBooks rather than in-print books, mainly because of their low cost-structure and also because eBooks are easier to store. However, many library users still prefer to read in-print books, as compared to reading eBooks. This therefore leads to a potential mismatch between the expectations of the library and its users. This study aims to investigate the usage of eBooks in Universities in Hong Kong. The focus of this research is to analyze the behaviors of students using eBooks at Universities in Hong Kong. Their usage experience would be observed and examined in order to identify and discover a more sustainable system for the future development of eBooks in Universities in Hong Kong. In this study, a questionnaire has been utilized for collecting the experiences of students using eBooks. The results very clearly demonstrated that printed books are the preferential choice for most students, although they were willing to accept eBooks as a substitute for printed books. The concerns of students corresponding to acceptance of eBooks have been examined in this study. This study would be beneficial for academic libraries in Hong Kong, as it would provide valuable assistance in enhancing and refining their services and developing their collection of eBooks, through understanding and appreciating the behaviors of students who use eBooks.
Highlights
With the rapid development of the Internet and its revolutionary impact on culture and commerce, through digitalization over the years, electronic resources started to develop very rapidly
Mr Dick Brass, Vice President of Microsoft, had predicted in 1999, that electronic books (eBooks) would become the future of reading and that 90% of in-print books would be replaced by eBooks by 2018
Fifty-six (56) respondents in the survey (91.8%) had an experience of reading eBooks, while only five (5) respondents (8.2%) possessed no experience with eBooks. This data proved that the trend surveyed by De Rosa et al (2010) which indicated that a growing number of college and University students use eBooks, was accurate, and this cemented the popularity of eBooks, as an essential component of eResources
Summary
With the rapid development of the Internet and its revolutionary impact on culture and commerce, through digitalization over the years, electronic resources started to develop very rapidly. It has been documented that in the last decade, many tertiary institutions in Hong Kong started introducing electronic books (eBooks) to augment and enrich their collections for academic or educational purposes. As the Internet is a platform which provides stable and speedy availability of information along with ease of accessibility of information, people are eager to use electronic resources more frequently. A survey investigating the information-seeking behaviors and technology preferences of college students reported that nearly 60% of respondents chose eBooks in preference over other eResources, by retrieving the required information from digital libraries, such as academic digital libraries (De Rosa et al, 2010). The percentage of users using eBooks and the predictions of Mr Brass are the explanations behind the reason why the future development of eBooks would become a critical issue for tertiary institutions
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