1. Have e-books turned the page? Wendy Abbott & Kate Kelly
Sooner or later!
Have e-books turned the page?
Wendy Abbott & Kate Kelly
Style created by: Lisa Barker and Kate Kelly

2. E-book prejudices
“to the world of processed food and processed hair we now add the processed book” (Esposito, 2003)
“not some fanciful format that publishers hope will catch on among thrill-seeking librarians” (Golderman & Connolly, 2004)
“the 1980s will see the book … begin a steady slide into oblivion” (Evans, 1979)

3. Overview What exactly is an e-book?
Diversity of models under the e-book banner
Case study of E-books at Bond University
E-book implications for libraries
More research needed

4. What exactly is an e-book?
E-books are monographs
Similar to printed books but…
Created and distributed in an electronic format
Reader must have direct access to the digital medium (Mattison, 2002)
Either delivered and read online
Or downloaded to a hand-held device
Plus some unique features

5. The evolutionary record for e-books
Proliferation of commercial models
Variety of technology applications
E-books on hand-held devices
E-books online
Subject content diversity
broad-based to discipline specific
Transforming from e-book into e-something else

6. Bond University Case Study
Background
Private, non-profit university
Approximately 2,700 students on campus (50/50 domestic and international students)
6 academic units (Business, Health Sciences and Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, IT, Law & Learning Communities)

8. Bond University Library
Challenges in meeting information needs of a small, diverse and dynamic university environment
Provide depth & breadth for disciplinary areas taught
Respond quickly to changes
Assure value for money

9. Bond University Library continued…
Library is well resourced – per EFTSU allocation well above the national average
IT environment favours electronic information delivery

10. P-books for IT students
Library surveys indicated low usage of IT print books (up to 30% never borrowed)
Limited shelf life for IT books
Constant need to update the collection in a fast moving discipline
Reasonable uptake of electronic journals (ACM Digital Library, Ebsco’s Computer Source)

11. E-books for IT students
Lecturer prescribing e-book subscriptions for students instead of textbooks
Safari Books in 2002 & Books 24x7 in 2003
Library trialled both Books 24x7 and Safari Books …
Subscription to Safari Books commenced in mid-2003 (eventually!)

12. What students liked about e-books
Good search functions and navigation
Ability to cut and paste
Extensive range of books
well organised material & up-to-date examples
Paper saving
Convenient (don’t have to carry heavy books)
Cheap

13. What students didn’t like about e-books
Difficulties reading from screen (tiring reading online)
Need a computer and internet access
Inability to take “normal” notes and highlight text

14. More feedback from students
Still want p-books!
Need practice to learn how to study online

15. Why prescribe e-textbooks?
Ensure students had online access to academically rigorous, up to date, body of information
Ensure students had access to more than one textbook
Could easily link e-textbook material into lecture program to reinforce learning

16. What the Lecturer found…
Student achievement not disadvantaged
Fewer “cries for help” as students had easy access to a large no. of examples
E-book service encouraged students to copy with appropriate acknowledgement
Processes for arranging subscriptions was convoluted

17. Library issues
Plethora of issues to resolve when negotiating licenses for e-book services
With Safari Books – possibility to modify selections
Issues about how to integrate with existing Library resources

18. More research needed Issues about e-book technology
Reading online
Studying online
Effects on student achievement
Questions about how best to integrate e- books into the learning environment

19. The Bond case study shows
E-books are “carefully conceived niche products with great potential to help librarians meet their users’ needs” (Golderman & Connolly, 2004)
Students welcome the additional features and web accessibility
Lecturer values quality content
Library appreciates greater flexibility

20. 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.