The shifting landscape of e‐books

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this paper is to review the current state of e-books, describing their potential scope, highlighting information from recent ebrary surveys in connection with the author's on-the-ground experience with students, and discussing the challenges of these evolving works. Design/methodology/approach -The paper describes the need to broaden perceptions of e-books in light of their extensive potential and scope. It highlights significant points in the ebrary surveys and compares them with the author's on-the-ground experience in a medium-sized university with students who are less advantaged. It also presents the challenges librarians face, both currently and in the future, illustrating progress in some areas and emphasizing the growing complexity in managing these works. Findings -Even as librarians cope with what can now be considered "traditional" e-books, little attention is paid to the potential breadth and diversity of e-books. The surveys show that librarians are only partially aware of students' perceptions about e-books and that there are conflicting priorities among students, faculty, and librarians. Conclusions are that: even as librarians cope with the current state of e-books, they must also plan for future types of e-books; and there is a strong need for greater communication in the increasingly complex e-book arena of selection, acquisition, collection integration, and instruction. Originality/value -Much of the literature about e-books deals with the pros and cons, either of e-books or of e-book readers. The paper lays out e-book issues to foster further in-depth discussion.There is nothing more exciting than watching a new development evolve from conception to reality, even if that reality is still unfinished and accompanied by challenges for those who manage it. The e-book is just such an example, although identifying its beginnings is difficult, as it has crept onto the landscape slowly and is still inching towards its full-blown future.

Comparative Usage of Science E-book and Print Collections at Texas A&M University Libraries

“…A review of the monthly usage statistics for Knovel and CHEMnetBASE revealed spikes in usage in the first month of each semester, when over 2,000 freshmen chemistry students are introduced to these resources. As Aline Soules points out, librarians are key brokers for students and faculty in the use of e-books (Soules 2009). Since a library assignment was added as a freshmen chemistry laboratory activity, use of Knovel and CHEMnetBASE has increased, not only because of use by freshmen but because over 180 teaching assistants as well as the faculty teaching the freshmen chemistry classes must also be familiar with the resources the students use.…”

Evaluating Business Models for E-Books Through Usage Data Analysis: A Case Study from the University of Westminster

“…Both the nature of e-books and the information-seeking behaviour of users are changing (Soules 2009, Nicholas 2008a, and it is likely that new business models will emerge as a result. Continuing analysis of usage data at both local and national level will be needed if we are to understand how our e-book collections are being used, and ensure both that we are acquiring the e-books our users need, and that our choice of business model represents the best possible value for money.…”

Reclassification in Academic Research Libraries: Is It Still Relevant in an E-Book World?

“…Almost 6,500 students at both the graduate and undergraduate level responded, of whom 48.5% reported never using e-books, with 57% of those respondents explaining that they could not locate them. 38 Another accessibility issue is that patrons might not know these e-books exist in the first place. Ebrary found that 33.5% of students did not know whether their library had e-books, although 90% of librarians surveyed said they were available.…”