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Journal ArticleDOI

The Evolving Role of E-Books at The University of Alabama Libraries

09 Aug 2011-Serials Librarian (Taylor & Francis Group)-Vol. 61, Iss: 2, pp 200-206
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined circulation statistics for print materials published in the past five years and found that only one third of the print materials ordered over the past 5 years have circulated, many only one time.
Abstract: During the fall of 2008, the librarians at Rodgers Library and the Associate Dean for Collections examined circulation statistics for print materials published in the past five years. At the same time, they were examining use of electronic resources in science and engineering. The difference in use was staggering. While the use of electronic resources continues to rise, the circulation of print materials falls. Statistics showed that only one third of the print materials ordered over the past five years have circulated, many only one time. Based on this information, the authors began discussing alternatives. While e-books will constitute a possible substitute for print books, they know that the two formats are complementary and will continue to maintain a balance in their collection. E-book acquisitions continue to evolve as new options become available.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This bibliography provides references of the published literature on e-books and related technologies in one source so that it will save time for others in conducting literature searches and reviewing the developments.
Abstract: As computer usage continues to grow exponentially, the desire of users to use electronic publications(e-publications) has also increased tremendously. This has led to the publication of materials in electronic formas e-publications on both CD-ROMs and web. The electronic book (e-book) is one of the several forms ofe-publications and its popularity has been growing steadily for the past decade. This bibliography providesall references of the published literature on e-books and related technologies in one source so that it will savetime for others in conducting literature searches and reviewing the developments. The information includedin this bibliography is collected systematically from all the published sources in the world such as journalarticles, conference papers, conference proceedings, books, reports and PhD theses on e-books until thelast quarter of 2011. Mainly, it covers e-books, e-books publishing, the impact of e-books on different typesof users, e-book publishing techniques and trends, e-book user interfaces and other technologies related toe-publications. This bibliography will be useful to all researchers conducting research in any areas relatedto e-books and e-book publishing. doi: 10.14429/djlit.32.2.1593

44 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
William H. Walters1
TL;DR: 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, and resource discovery tools (RDTs).

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Librarians in the Health Sciences Library System at the University of Pittsburgh explored the possibility of developing an electronic reference collection that would replace the print reference collection, thus providing access to these valuable materials to a widely dispersed user population.
Abstract: Librarians in the Health Sciences Library System at the University of Pittsburgh explored the possibility of developing an electronic reference collection that would replace the print reference collection, thus providing access to these valuable materials to a widely dispersed user population. The librarians evaluated the print reference collection and standard collection development lists as potential benchmarks for the electronic collection, and they determined which books were available in electronic format. They decided that the low availability of electronic versions of titles in each benchmark group rendered the creation of an electronic reference collection using either benchmark impractical.

14 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed circulation trends of physical media materials (CDs, LPs, DVDs, and VHS tapes), as well as usage data of subscription online streaming media databases at the University of Louisville for the ten-year period of 2002-2011.
Abstract: This study analyzes circulation trends of physical media materials (CDs, LPs, DVDs, and VHS tapes), as well as usage data of subscription online streaming media databases at the University of Louisville for the ten-year period of 2002–2011. As patron use of the library's subscription online streaming media databases such as Naxos Music Library and Alexander Street Press Classical Music Library has increased each year over the past decade, the circulation of physical media items has decreased significantly during the same time period.

9 citations


Cites background from "The Evolving Role of E-Books at The..."

  • ...A recently published study of science and engineering materials at the University of Alabama libraries showed that the use of electronic resources and e-books rose significantly while print material circulation declined.(1) These findings are similar to the current study at the University of Louisville, in that the demand for electronic resources is continually rising as demand for physical items is decreasing....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Using circulation records, interlibrary loan (ILL) requests, and in-house use as a gauge of patron demand during a three-year period, the authors found that e-books may meet only a fraction of the demand for monographic scholarly output and that libraries cannot yet rely on e-book content to entirely supplant print.
Abstract: The authors created a research method to identify local users’ needs and explored how well currently available e-book content might meet those needs. Using circulation records, interlibrary loan (ILL) requests, and in-house use as a gauge of patron demand during a three-year period, the study compared these records to e-book offerings from the major aggregators. The resulting data were analyzed by subject and publication date. The authors found that e-book content that might meet users’ needs was not uniformly distributed across disciplines and that more recent publications were more likely to have e-book equivalents. The highest percentage of e-book equivalents was for titles requested via ILL, suggesting that this might be the best place to begin e-book collecting. The results suggest that e-books may meet only a fraction of the demand for monographic scholarly output and that libraries cannot yet rely on e-book content to entirely supplant print, although e-book coverage is growing dramatically.

5 citations