Relative Preferences For Paper And For Electronic Books: Implications For Reference Services, Library Instruction, And Collection Management

Authors

Leila June Rod-Welch, University of Northern IowaFollow
Barbara E. Weeg, University of Northern IowaFollow
Jerry V. Caswell, University of Northern IowaFollow
Thomas L. Kessler, University of Northern IowaFollow

Document Type

Article

Keywords

attitudes, e-books, electronic books, library, paper books, preference

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Internet Reference Services Quarterly

Volume

18

Issue

3-4

First Page

281

Last Page

303

Abstract

While electronic books (e-books) can make intellectual content more accessible, librarians are faced with uncertainties about e-book acceptance and decreasing materials budgets. What are library user attitudes toward books accessible in print or in electronic form? How might library user attitudes inform the practices of reference, instruction, and collection management librarians? Librarians at a Midwestern public university sought guidance from its users by conducting a survey examining the relative preferences for books in paper and electronic formats. Characteristics of readers and their purposes for using books were explored, as were characteristics of the formats such as accessibility, portability, and convenience. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Department

Rod Library

Original Publication Date

12-23-2013

DOI of published version

10.1080/10875301.2013.840713

Recommended Citation

Rod-Welch, Leila June; Weeg, Barbara E.; Caswell, Jerry V.; and Kessler, Thomas L., "Relative Preferences For Paper And For Electronic Books: Implications For Reference Services, Library Instruction, And Collection Management" (2013). Faculty Publications. 1518.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/facpub/1518