Gathering the Evidence for E-book Collection Development: A Survey of Academic and Clinical

Library UsersBarbara L. Folb, MM, MLS, MPH

Charles B. Wessel, MLSLeslie J. Czechowski, MA, MLS

E-book Definition

“Electronic versions of print books that can be read on a computer or an electronic device such as a pda.”

-or- “Electronic information sources such as

UpToDate which have no print equivalent, but feel like a book to you in terms of their content, length, and purpose”

STUDY QUESTIONS

Main Question

Who is using the e-book collection?

What Information Tasks Do E-books Support?

Factors Influencing E-book Use?

METHODS

Survey Design

• Online probability sample survey• Sample frame: list of HSLS remote access

passwords• Stratified UPMC/Pitt• Total number surveyed: 5,292 • Survey period: March – April 2009

RESULTS

Response

• 871 complete,108 partial responses– University 476: • 434 complete, 42 partial responses

– UPMC 503: • 437 complete, 66 partial responses

• Response rate of 16.5-18.5%

DEMOGRAPHICS

Administrator, Manager, Supervisor

Other

Other patient care

Support staff

Nurse

Attending Physician

Researcher

Intern, Resident, Fellow

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0%

Respondent roles at UPMC(n=494)

Other University Role

Undergraduate

Postdoctoral or Fellow

Staff

Graduate or Medical Student

Faculty or Teaching Role

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0%

Respondent roles at the University of Pittsburgh (n=728)

0.0%5.0%

10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%

<21 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90

Age Distribution, Pitt and UPMC

Pitt

UPMC

Not applicable

Not at all comfortable

Not comfortable

Somewhat uncomfortable

Neutral

Somewhat comfortable

Comfortable

Very comfortable

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Level of Comfort with Computers, All Respondents (n=873)

USE OF E-BOOKS

Awareness, Use of E-books

• 65.5 % (n=599/914), aware of HSLS e-books

• 55.4% (n=505/911) used an HSLS e-book in the past year

• Awareness, use correlated with role

0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%

100.0%

Nurses (n=72) Other Clinical Care (n=34)

Attending Physicians

(n=73)

Interns, Residents, and

Fellows (n=100)

As a clinician, have you ever used e-books to support clinical care? (positive responses)

AVAILABILITY, CONTENT ACCESS

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

Don't knowCompletely disagree

Moderately disagree

Neutral Moderately agree

Completely agree

User Confidence in Ability to Locate Books in the HSLS Collection

e-books (n= 899)

any HSLS book (n=914)

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

Don't know Completely disagree

Moderately disagree

Neutral Moderately agree

Completely agree

User Confidence They Can Access E-books at Point of Need (n=897)

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

Don't know Completely disagree

Moderately disagree

Neutral Moderately agree

Completely agree

User Confidence They Have Time to Get HSLS Print Books When Needed (n=914)

DISTANCE AND E-BOOK USE

PHYSICAL LIBRARY, WEBSITE, AND E-BOOK USE

Yes Non (%) n (%)

Yes 617 (66.9%) 20 (2.2%)

No 262 (28.4%) 23 (2.5%)

χ 2= 10.765, df=1, p<.0001

(n=922)Are Website and Physical Library Use Correlated?

Use Physical Library?

Use Library Website?

Yes Non (%) n (%)

Yes 262 (44.7%) 137 (23.4%)

No 87 (14.8%) 100 (17.1%)

Are E-book and Print Book Use Correlated?(n=586)

Use of Library E-book?

χ 2=19.365 , df=1, p<.0000

Use of Library Print Book?

FORMAT PREFERENCE BY BOOK TYPE

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Reference Book (n=819)

Pharmaceutical (n=698)

Protocol (n=626)

Handbook or Manual (n=734)

Textbook (n=784)

E-book preferred

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Reference Book (n=819)

Pharmaceutical (n=698)

Protocol (n=626)

Handbook or Manual (n=734)

Textbook (n=784)

Flexible about Format*

*Responses that indicated they would use their least preferred format if it was more convenient at the time of use, or indicated no preference, are coded as flexible.

E-BOOK FEATURES

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Figure 3 Importance of e-book Features (n=863)*

Print Sections

Save Sections

Fulltext Search

Bookmarking

Highlighting

Annotation

*Includes respondents who never used an HSLS e-book. Results did not change when restricted to only e-book

Major Conclusions

• Format flexibility• Information need, not format, drives use• Physical and virtual library use correlated• Promotion via library website • Federated searching valued• Catalog access used less than web access• Print, save features a priority

Implications for Library Practice

• Reduction of duplication possible• Repackage catalog for web• Web presence• Federated search• Active promotion• Lobby for features users want

For further information

• Barbara Folb - folb@pitt.edu

• Article, JMLA, July 2011