E-book use and value in the humanities: Scholars' practices and expectations

Tina E. Chrzastowski, Lynn N. Wiley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A research project to study e-book adoption in the humanities was conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). This study had multiple components. Data were collected from a demand-driven acquisition program in humanities disciplines utilizing short-term loans purchased via an e-book aggre-gator. The study measured the choice of an e-book over print by reviewing print availability as an e-book loan was initiated. Use transactions were examined and categorized to determine levels of e-book use. Scholars from disciplines matching the Demand-Driven Acquisitions (DDA) offerings were invited to take a survey on e-books. Scholars were asked about their view on the adoption of e-books, e-book values, the role of print books in the future and factors in their choice of book format. The data showed a split in acceptance of electronic versus print. The data also show that although humanists may lag behind other disciplines in incor-porating e-books into their research, they believe e-book availability and use will increase. Many would like to see more e-books available in their disciplines. The e-book format is appreciated, but scholars may also want the full text along with the print because of the varied types of reading employed by humanities scholars.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)172-186
Number of pages15
JournalLibrary Resources and Technical Services
Volume59
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Information Systems
  • Library and Information Sciences

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