E-book on the library shelf: access and usage in the research process

Liene Nikele, Chief Librarian, Collection Employment and Development Department,

Library of the University of Latvia

Advantages and disadvantages of e-book

+ searchable; portable; can be printable; defy time; defy space; can be annotated; can be interactive.

- print books easier to read; purchased e-book full text open

time is limited (example 1 year -200 credit);

at the same time purchased e-book is available for a small group of users (some books need licenses).

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E-book is a text and image-based publication in digital form produced on, published by, and readable on computers or other digital devices (iPod, computer, mobile devices)

Informational support (print and electronic books)

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2011 2012 2013

7073

75

UL Bachelor and Master Studies Programmes

increase number of titles

2011 2012 2013

50 50

52UL Doctor Studies Programmes

vastly increase in the proportion of e-resources

2010 2011 2012 2013

5.88.2 8.6

9.7

UL Bachelor and Master Studies Programmes

E-book access of Library UL

E-books databases:

EBSCO eBook Academic Collection – 78 000 e-book selection of multidisciplinary

science.

Dawsonera – e-books platform for books purchased by UL library on various scientific

fields.

Both databases can be read-online, download, copy (Dawsonera) and send to e-mail (EBSCO)

Databases may be accessed from any computer connected to internet by submitting LANET username and password.

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Dawsonera e-book accessibility

• Read Online - with possibility to print or copy 5% from books and to use different interactive possibilities (annotated text, add a comment etc.);

• Download - PDF with book access to one week, without possibility copy or print.

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Purchased Dawsonera e-books

  2011 2012 2013 Titles

Nature sciences 4 34 115 153

Social sciences 41 35 242 318

Humanities sciences 9 9 5 23

Computing sciences 23 10 6 39

Total: 77 88 368 533

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Our activities in popularization of e-books

Consulting about e-resources: databases, e-journal and e-books;

List of purchased e-books all sciences is available in UL portal;

Database training - where librarians inform users how to find information in all databases (including specially information about Dawsonera purchased e-books).

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Usage of purchased Dawsonera e-books

  Titles UsageAverage usage

of 1 title

Number of students

(in 1/10/2013)

Nature sciences 153 1598 ~ 10 3256

Social sciences 318 2502 ~ 8 7284

Humanities sciences 23 711 ~ 31 2298

Computing sciences 39 430 ~ 11 850

Total: 533 5241 13688

  Purchased titles Unused titles

Nature sciences 153 1

Social sciences 318 17

Humanities sciences 23 2

Computing sciences 39 4

Total: 533 24

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Usage of purchased Dawsonera e-books

Question

Who is responsible for major usage of e-books in the future?

Librarians

Academic personal

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Recommendations

Librarians: improve the list of new e-books in the web page of UL by adding illustrative

materials; banner with information about new e-books, which is refreshed two times a

month; poster about new e-books on information desk in all branches of library; improve database training and inform more where and how to find

information about Dawsonera e-books; add QR code (on the back) to all regular books which have e-version.

Academic personal should be involved in promotion of e-books popularization for books they suggested.

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Information resources:

Gardiner, Eileen and Ronald G. Musto. The Electronic Book / In Suarez, Michael Felix and H. R. Woudhuysen. - Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, p. 164.

Pastore, Michael. 30 Benefits of Ebooks. 2008.

Access: http://epublishersweekly.blogspot.com/2008/02/30-benefits-of-ebooks.html

Number of students in the faculties of the 2013th on 1st October.

Access: http://epublishersweekly.blogspot.com/2008/02/30-benefits-of-ebooks.html

The LU Library's document „LU Library's plan of the strategic activities for the LU Strategic Plan's Realization During the 2010-2020 years” Access:http://www.lu.lv/par/dokumenti/strategijas-un-koncepcijas/strategija2010-2020/

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Thank you for your attention!

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