E-books In Academic Libraries Research Articles

Print Book and e-Book Collections in Academic Libraries in Malawi

Arrival of e-books on the scene has had a significant effect on the collection development activities of many academic libraries. Whilst some libraries have made the radical decision to ditch print books in favor of e-books, others are cautiously navigating the new terrain by acquiring both. The current study used the survey research design to study the collection development trends of print books and e-books in academic libraries in Malawi. The study found that academic libraries in Malawi are acquiring both print books and e-books. The trend has resulted from collection development decisions, practices, and budgetary constraints.

Ebooks in Academic Libraries

The number of ebooks continues to grow in academic libraries. Ebooks have many advantages that make them attractive as a library resource. However, ebooks also have restrictions. These include use and sharing restrictions, license restrictions, and technological barriers. Some students also prefer print books for specific tasks. The following articles examine many aspects of ebooks in academic libraries, including student preference, overall ebook use, and the advantages and disadvantages of various ebook acquisition models.

A Systematic Review of E-Books in Academic Libraries: Access, Advantages, and Usage

This article presents a systematic review of E-book user studies from 2001 to 2017. It focused on qualitative and quantitative studies that examined academic user groups’ attitudes and interactions with E-books. The review aimed to reveal users’ knowledge of the E-book format, their ability to define an E-book, their awareness of E-books’ availabilities from the institutions’ libraries, as well as their appreciation of E-books’ advantages. The authors also considered respondents’ usage of E-books such as the devices that fostered E-book access, internet avenues individuals’ utilized to locate the materials, printing and downloading of E-books, and the time individuals’ spent reading E-books online and the frequency of their access. The literature illustrated the importance of E-books to all members of the academic community for research and coursework. Still, studies pointed to a lack of awareness or familiarity among students, faculty, and staff of their institution’s E-books especially with the format’s features and the various collections owned by the university. To that end, it is especially critical that librarians promote E-books to all potential users.

Users’ Perceptions of E-books at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi : A Case Study

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span>The collection development policies of university libraries are driven by the information seeking behaviour and extent of use of resources by students, researchers and teachers. Libraries have introduced e-books in their collections with rising demand of users for them. However, e-books have not gained the perceived acceptance among users. It is essential to understand the gaps in preferences and experiences of users of e-books in academic libraries so that the collections of e-books can be customised to meet the users’ preferences. The purpose of this study is to understand how students, teachers and research scholars access, browse and use e-books in Jawaharlal </span><span>Nehru University, Delhi, India. The study has identified factors that encourage or discourage the use of e-books in </span><span>academic libraries. It highlights preferences for the format (electronic/print) while perusing books as textbooks or reference books for research. </span></p></div></div></div>

Challenges in Sharing and Use of e-books in Academic Libraries

Challenges in Sharing and Use of e-books in Academic Libraries

Assessing the User Experience of E-Books in Academic Libraries

We report findings from an assessment of e-book user experience (search and information seeking) from usage data and user tests. The usage data showed that most reading sessions were brief and focused on certain pages, suggesting that users mainly use e-books to find specific information. The user tests found that participants tended to use default keyword search and browse the search results. Experience levels with e-books and features of e-book platforms influenced users’ information seeking in e-books. The assessment results have significant implications for designing e-book features to support users’ reading strategies and help libraries create a consistent user experience.

Research on e-book usage in academic libraries: ‘tame’ solution or a ‘wicked problem’?

The result of a systematic analysis of the literature on research about the usage of e-books in academic libraries published in the United States and the United Kingdom between 2004 and 2014 is examined. Commonalities were identified amongst the articles, together with factors such as questions asked, user response and the research methods that were used. Several areas of deficiency were identified in the conduct of the research and, in order to contextualise the issues, Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber’s (1973) characteristics of a ‘wicked problem’ and a ‘tame problem’ were used as a framework. It was concluded that e-book usage does exhibit several of the characteristics of a wicked problem, and uncertainty about the exact nature of the problem will remain until further research

On eBooks in academic libraries: an article based on a presentation at the Library 2.014 Conference

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate and discuss some of the commonly held misconceptions about using and managing eBooks in academic research libraries and to outline what skills, abilities and knowledge are required of librarians and other library staff who work with eBooks. eBooks are an important presence in the vast majority of academic libraries. It is reasonable to expect that this presence will increase in the years to come. The value of eBooks to many students, faculty and researchers is undeniable and their availability has created new learning and teaching opportunities which were not possible with print-only library collection. Design/methodology/approach – eBooks bring multiple benefits to the academic environment. Findings – eBooks provide portable information resources for students and researchers doing fieldwork. eBooks have the potential for relieving pressure on space in some libraries. Some eBook platforms offer students new and enhanced ways for interacting with library materials, including accessibility features. Originality/value – The addition of eBooks to academic library collections addresses a growing preference among some patrons for information in electronic format.

Issues related to the adoption of e-books in academic libraries: a literature review

While e-journals have successfully be integrated into library collections, the same cannot be said about e-books. In this paper, the obstacles to e-book adoption in academic libraries is discussed using a review of the English-language literature published over the period 2007 to 2013. Issues identified are the changing roles of libraries in the digital age; collection development strategies; complex e-book purchase models offered to libraries; questions of copyright, licensing and digital rights management; format considerations; and availability of hardware and software on which to read e-books. Libraries continue to face these challenges today.

The Management of E-Books in Academic Libraries and its Challenges

E-books are commonly perceived as offering great potential for learner support but also as struggling to compete with print due to poor on-screen presentation, restrictive licencing and limited range of titles offered. The experience of a group of Irish university libraries shows that, with the right combination of product and subjects, e-books can thrive among students and faculty, while librarians can create more dynamic, relevant and flexible collections than for print. Subscription management is demanding for libraries, however, and licencing issues remain highly problematic, representing a formidable obstacle to full exploitation.

E-books in Academic Libraries: Challenges for Discovery and Access

This paper examines the recent literature on the presentation of e-books in college and university libraries, focusing on three mechanisms for discovery and access: e-book vendors' interfaces, library catalogs (OPACs), and resource discovery tools (RDTs). If libraries rely on vendors' interfaces, patrons must search on multiple platforms, many of which have limited and idiosyncratic search mechanisms. The most common strategy for discovery and access—including e-books in the library catalog—brings its own set of challenges, including limited availability of records, lack of standardization, difficulties managing the addition and removal of titles, and the generally low quality of vendor-supplied records. Likewise, libraries that use resource discovery tools face another set of difficulties: incomplete coverage, reliance on metadata from external sources, problems with subject headings and authority control, difficulties with guest-user access, and continuing dependence on vendors' platforms for access to full text.

E-books in Academic Libraries: Challenges for Discovery and Access

This paper examines the recent literature on the presentation of e-books in college and university libraries, focusing on three mechanisms for discovery and access: e-book vendors' interfaces, library catalogs (OPACs), and resource discovery tools (RDTs). If libraries rely on vendors' interfaces, patrons must search on multiple platforms, many of which have limited and idiosyncratic search mechanisms. The most common strategy for discovery and access—including e-books in the library catalog—brings its own set of challenges, including limited availability of records, lack of standardization, difficulties managing the addition and removal of titles, and the generally low quality of vendor-supplied records. Likewise, libraries that use resource discovery tools face another set of difficulties: incomplete coverage, reliance on metadata from external sources, problems with subject headings and authority control, difficulties with guest-user access, and continuing dependence on vendors' platforms for access to full text.

E-books in Academic Libraries: Challenges for Acquisition and Collection Management

This bibliographic essay examines the difficulties associated with the selection, licensing, acquisition, and management of e-books in academic libraries. The potential advantages of e-book technology are likely to be realized only to the extent that they advance the economic goals of e-book suppliers and are consistent with the legal framework that has been negotiated by publishers, vendors, libraries, and readers. Many difficulties can be traced to a lack of uniformity in license terms, access restrictions, and librarians’ expectations. Likewise, sustainable access to e-books is hindered by impermanent physical media, proprietary file formats and software, and restrictive license provisions. Although the goals of e-book providers are sometimes inconsistent with those of universities, librarians are well-positioned to guide vendors in the development of e-book licenses and platforms.

E-books in academic libraries: Challenges for sharing and use

This paper reviews the recent literature on e-book sharing and use in post-secondary libraries, exploring current restrictions on viewing, printing, downloading, circulation, and interlibrary loan. It also discusses the ways in which these restrictions influence the library lending of e-book readers and other mobile devices. The most fundamental problems include restrictive license provisions, proprietary software and file formats, digital rights management (DRM), and the single-user business model adopted by many e-book vendors.

The Management of E-Books in Academic Libraries and Its Challenges

The Management of E-Books in Academic Libraries and Its Challenges

The e-book management framework: The management of e-books in academic libraries and its challenges

E-book management in academic libraries is examined, and a framework of the stages in the e-book management process is generated; the framework summarizes the key activities and associated issues and challenges for each stage. Academic libraries are one of the main markets for textbooks and other e-books. As such, the relationships that they forge with e-book vendors (publishers and aggregators), and the resolution of some of the challenges that they currently face in managing their collections of e-books, will have significant consequences for the adoption of e-books in learning. An interview-based study with a purposive sample of interviewees working as managers, subject librarians, metadata officers, and e-resources coordinators from seven academic libraries in the UK was conducted to investigate the libraries' experiences and perceptions of e-book management. The resultant e-book management framework identifies the processes associated with the management of e-books, and also offers insights into the challenges and issues associated with each stage. The stages in the framework are: collection development policy, budget, discovery, evaluation and selection, license negotiations, cataloging and delivery, marketing/promotion, user education, monitoring and reviewing, and renewals and cancellation.

Best Practices for Integrating E-books in Academic Libraries: A Literature Review From 2005 to Present

Library Journal's 2011 Ebook Penetration and Use in U.S. Libraries Survey testifies to e-books’ increasing popularity in academic libraries. This review tracked literature published from 2005 that focused on academic librarians’ best practices for acquiring, cataloging, maintaining, and promoting e-books at their institutions. Some of these practices include implementing trial accesses, considering institutional requirements, providing an e-book presence in the library catalog, monitoring usage statistics, and utilizing the library Web site for promotional efforts.

Academic Libraries Should Consider a Strategic Approach to Promotion and Marketing of e-Books

Academic Libraries Should Consider a Strategic Approach to Promotion and Marketing of e-Books

Mincic-Obradovic, Ksenija (2011) Ebooks in Academic Libraries

Mincic-Obradovic, Ksenija (2011) Ebooks in Academic Libraries

Sources: E-books in Academic Libraries

Sources: E-books in Academic Libraries