What Do Our Users Think About eBooks? 10 Years of Survey Data
at the University of Denver
Charleston ConferenceNovember 5, 2015
Michael [email protected]
What Do Our Users Think About eBooks AND PRINT BOOKS? 10
Years of Survey Data at the University of Denver
Charleston ConferenceNovember 5, 2015
Michael [email protected]
Three Surveys
• Spring 2005, 2010, 2015– Entire university community– Similar, but not exact, questions
• Two articles from 2005 survey:– Levine-Clark, M, “Electronic Book Usage and Humanities:
A Survey at the University of Denver,” Collection Building26, no. 1 (2007): 7-14.
– Levine-Clark, M, “Electronic Book Usage: A Survey at the University of Denver,” portal: Libraries and the Academy6, no. 3 (2006): 285-299.
University of Denver
• Private institution
• 5,643 undergraduates
– Liberal arts and sciences, business
• 6,166 Graduates
– Many professional programs
– Strong social sciences focus
eBooks at the University of Denver
1999-2005Colorado Alliance NetLibrary DDA
2005-presentEbrary Academic Complete subscription, additional subs, EBSCO subs
2006-presentVarious publisher packagesDuke, Springer, OUPE-preferred approval plan
2010-presentDDA – EBL, ebrary, JSTOR
2012-presentCO Alliance DDA
2013-presentEvidence-Based Selection
Off-Campus Storage
• In 2011 we moved 60% of the monographs to offsite storage
– One criterion is availability of an e-version
Responses
0 200 400 600 800 1000
2005
2010
2015
Other
Grad
Undergrad
Faculty
877
2,067
1,818
Are you aware we have ebooks? (% answering Yes)
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
2005
2010
2015
Grad
Undergrad
Faculty
Are you aware we have ebooks, by discipline (% answering Yes)
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%
2005
2010
2015
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Have you ever used an ebook? 2015
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
Faculty Undergrad Grad
Yes - Personal DeviceSuch as Kindle
Yes - Coursework,Research
No
Have never used an ebook
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
2005* 2010 2015
Faculty
Undergrad
Grad
*For 2005, data about differences between groups for this question are missing
2015: Why have you never used an ebook?
• Prefer physicality of print books/dislike reading on screen
• Like taking notes
• Don’t like functionality of ebooks
• Unaware of option
• Don’t have a reader
How often do you use ebooks?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2005
2010
2015
One-Time Only
Occasionally
Frequently
2015: How often do you?
Read ebooks for pleasure?
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
One-Time Only Occasionally
Frequently
Use ebooks for research/teaching?
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
One-Time Only Occasionally
Frequently
Why do you use ebooks? (Pick all that apply)
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
2015 2010
No Print Version Available Easier than Going to Library
For Searching For Reading Small Portions of Text
Other
2015: Why do you use ebooks? (Pick all that apply)
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
Faculty Undergrad Grad
No Print Version Available Easier than Going to Library
For Searching For Reading Small Portions of Text
Other
2015: Why do you use ebooks? (Pick all that apply)
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
No Print Version Available Easier than Going to Library
For Searching For Reading Small Portions of Text
Other
2015: Why do you use ebooks? (other)
• Cheaper/free
• Portable
• Faster/immediate access
• Ability to highlight, take notes
• For pleasure, not for academic work (or the other way around)
• Similar reasons in 2010
How do you typically use books?
EBOOKS Entire Book (4) Chapter (1) Single Section (2) Multiple (3)
2010 3.31 2.05 2.17 2.38
2015 2.75 2.19 2.30 2.32
PRINT Entire Book Chapter Single Section Multiple
2010 2.44 (3) 2.17 (1) 2.93 (4) 2.31 (2)
2015 1.88 (1) 2.23 (2) 2.73 (4) 2.50 (3)
Please rank choices from 1 to 4:• Read the entire book• Read a chapter within the book• Read a single entry or a few pages• Skip around/Read multiple sections
2005: How do you typically read an ebook? (pick one)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Read the Entire Book
Read a Chapter
Read a Single Entry or aFew Pages
2015: How do you typically read a book? (rank these)
EBOOKS Chapter Single Entry/A Few Pages
SkipAround/Multiple Portions
Entire Book
Arts & Hum 2.17 2.28 2.55 3.04
Business 2.36 2.41 2.13 2.72
Nontraditional 2.14 2.33 2.28 2.29
Professional 2.18 2.32 2.28 2.79
Social Sciences 2.10 2.31 2.32 2.82
STEM 2.29 2.23 2.39 2.97
PRINT Entire Book Chapter Skip Around/ Multiple Sections
SingleEntry/A Few Pages
Arts & Hum 1.82 2.06 2.22 2.57
Business 1.96 2.56 2.68 2.85
Nontraditional 1.87 2.23 2.72 2.65
Professional 1.85 2.18 2.36 2.59
Social Sciences 1.88 2.18 2.41 2.84
STEM 1.91 2.24 2.52 2.78
How do you read an ebook?
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
2015
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%
2010
If you had p and e versions of the same book, which would you use?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2015
2010
2005
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
It Depends
2015: If you had access to p and e versions of the same book, which would you use?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Faculty
Undergrad
Grad
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
It Depends
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
It Depends
2015: If you had access to p and e versions of the same book, which would you use?
2015: If you had access to p and e, which would you use? (It depends)
• Price
• Amount of book needed
• Whether it’s a one-time need or an ongoing need
• Images = need print
• Where you are (portability)
2015: Do you prefer an ebook or print when…
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
print available but can get ebook within aday
ebook available but can get print in 3-5 days
ebook available but can get print in 3 hours
need to answer a specific question
need to find some information to back up myargument
need to read a chapter within a book
need to read an entire book, but I can skim
need to read an entire book, cover to cover
Always Print Usually Print Usually Electronic Always Electronic
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Grad
Undergrad
Faculty
need to answer a specific question
Grad
Undergrad
Faculty
need some info to back up my argument
Grad
Undergrad
Facultyneed to read a chapter within a book
GradUndergrad
Faculty
need to read an entire book, but can skim
Grad
Undergrad
Faculty
need to read an entire book, cover to cover
Always Print Usually Print Usually Electronic Always Electronic
2015
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Grad
Undergrad
Faculty
print available, can get ebook within a day
Grad
Undergrad
Faculty
ebook available, can get print in 3-5 days
Grad
Undergrad
Faculty
ebook available, can get print in 3 hours
Always Print Usually Print Usually Electronic Always Electronic
2015
2015: Preference for e or p when I need to read an entire book, cover to cover
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
2015: Preference for e or p when I need to read an entire book, but can skim
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
2015: Preference for e or p when I need to read a chapter within a book
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
2015: Preference for e or p when I am writing a research paper and need to find some information to back up my argument
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
2015: Preference for e or p when I am trying to answer a specific question
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
2015: Preference for e or p when the library has ebook but can get print version in 3 hours
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
2015: Preference for e or p when the library has ebook but can get print version in 3-5 days
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
2015: Preference for e or p when the library has print but can get ebook within a day
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Arts & Humanities
Business
Nontraditional
Professional
Social Sciences
STEM
Always Print
Usually Print
Usually Electronic
Always Electronic
For which types of books would you prefer an ebook over print?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
2015 2010
Textbook
Reference Book
Edited Collection ofScholarly Essays
Scholarly Monograph
Fiction
I would Never Prefer aneBook
2015: For which types of books would you prefer to read an ebook over print?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Faculty Undergrad Grad
Textbook
Reference Book
Edited Collection of Essays
Scholarly Monograph (single-author narrative)
Fiction
I would Never Prefer aneBook
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Arts &Humanities
Business Nontraditional Professional Social Sciences STEM
Textbook Reference Book
Edited Collection Scholarly Monograph
Fiction I would Never Prefer an eBook
2015: For which types of books would you prefer to read an ebook over print?
In which scenarios would you use an ebook?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
2015 2010
Course-Related Assignment
Course-Assigned Textbook
Research
I would Never Use an eBook
(in 2015, this was accidentally labeled as "I would never PREFER
2015: In which scenarios would you use an ebook?
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
Faculty Undergrad Grad
Course-RelatedAssignment
Course-AssignedTextbook
Research
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
Arts &Humanities
Business Nontraditional Professional Social Sciences STEM
Course-Related Assignment Course-Assigned Textbook Research
2015: In which scenarios would you use an ebook?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2015 2010
76-100%
51-75%
26-50%
11-25%
10% or less
For roughly what percentage of your research or coursework do you use books (print or electronic) vs other forms of publication
(such as journal articles, conference proceedings, etc)?
2015: For roughly what percentage of your research or coursework do you use books (print or electronic) vs other forms of publication
(such as journal articles, conference proceedings, etc)?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Faculty Undergrad Grad
76-100%
51-75%
26-50%
11-25%
10% or less
2015: For roughly what percentage of your research or coursework do you use books (print or electronic) vs other forms of publication
(such as journal articles, conference proceedings, etc)?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
76-100%
51-75%
26-50%
11-25%
10% or less
A few quick conclusions
• There are clear needs/preferences for both formats
– Linked to type of use
– For particular users
– Libraries can’t rely on one format and expect to serve users
• Bundled purchase of e/p– Local or consortial
• DDA plans for e/p
Top Related