Transcript EPIC Online Publishing Use and Costs Evaluation Program

Librarian Online Survey
Methodology and Objectives
Methodology:
• We conducted a 15 minute online survey of librarians in Winter, 2002.
• 3,120 e-mail invitations were sent to librarians at 1267 higher education institutions
• All were librarians at institutions that are either CIAO or Earthscape subscribers, or have been
identified as being potential subscribers.
• 1007 librarians completed the survey for a response rate of 32%
The objectives of this study were to:
• Gain insights into the purchasing of electronic resources.
• Gain insights into how electronic resources affect the role of the library and of the librarian.
• Learn what librarians perceive as the benefits and disadvantages of electronic resources.
• Gain insights into how electronic resources affect the role of print resources.
Respondent Profile
Gender/Number of Years as Librarian
N=1007
Female
Gender
69%
Male
The respondents were primarily
female.
•
The length of time the
respondents had been a
librarian ranged from 1 to 47
years.
31%
1 year - 10 years
How long have
you been a
librarian?
•
38%
11 years - 20 years
27%
More than 20 years
35%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Type of Institution/Library
N=1007
•
Most of the librarians work in the
main library of their school, with
13% working in a special or
branch library.
39%
Research University
Community College
3%
Other
Type of
Library
The vast majority of respondents
were from 4-year colleges or
research universities. “Other”
institutions included law schools
and non-research institutions
offering some graduate degrees.
48%
Four-year College
Type of
Institution
•
10%
84%
Main Library
13%
Special/Branch Library
Other
3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Current Roles
N=1007
•
The majority of librarians
surveyed currently have the
role of Reference, Public,
Access or Information
Services Librarian as part of
their responsibilities.
•
Slightly more than half have
the role of Selector, Liaison or
Subject Librarian.
•
Those who chose “other”
listed management,
government documents,
interlibrary loan, instruction or
serials librarian as part of their
responsibilities.
80%
Reference, Public, Access or Information Services Librarian
51%
Selector. Liaison Librarian, Subject Librarian
28%
Collection Development Librarian
25%
Electronic Resources Librarian
20%
Library Administrator
14%
Bibliographer
10%
Librarian (General)
5%
Acquisitions Librarian
24%
Other Librarian
0%
10%
What are your current roles? (check all that apply)
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90% 100%
Purchase of
Electronic Resources
Funding Sources for Electronic Resources
N=413
•
The primary source of funding
for electronic resources is
money diverted from other
items in the library budget.
•
Less than half of the librarians
report that there has been an
increase in their library’s base
budget to allow for the purchase
of electronic resources.
•
“Other” responses included
student technology fees.
75%
Money diverted from other items in the library budget
52%
Consortial funding
43%
An increase in the library's base budget
30%
Additional funding from my college/university
18%
Supplemental state funding
16%
Endowments
Other
7%
DK/NA
7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90% 100%
What funding sources are used to pay for electronic resources at your library? (check all that apply).
Asked only of those whose roles include ‘Library Administrator’ or ‘Collection Development’.
Funding Sources for Electronic Resources
(by Institution Type)
Money diverted from other
items in the library budget
76%
77%
Consortial funding
48%
An increase in the library's
base budget
54%
45%
40%
Additional funding from
my college/university
26%
Supplemental state
funding
•
35%
19%
20%
19%
15%
Endowments
Other
6%
7%
DK/NA
7%
7%
0%
10%
Research universities were more
likely to receive additional funding
from their university for the purchase
of electronic resources than were 4year colleges.
Research University N=182
Four Year College N=183
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
What funding sources are used to pay for electronic resources at your library? (check all that apply).
Asked only of those whose roles include ‘Library Administrator’ or ‘Collection Development’.
Money is Diverted From:
•
Money to cover electronic
resources is diverted from the
budgets for serial publications and
for books.
•
Since many serial publications may
be included in aggregated online
resources, this may not necessarily
lead to a decrease in the available
journals for the library users.
•
However, the diversion of funds
from the books budget may be
indicating a trend of libraries
investing less in scholarly
monographs in favor of electronic
subscriptions.
N=311
Budget for serial
publications
77%
73%
Budget for books
Budget for microform
journals
35%
Budget for staff
salaries
4%
5%
Other
DK/NA
9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Where is the money diverted from? (check all that apply).
Asked only of those who specified that money for electronic resources came from other
items in the library budget.
The Decision to Purchase an Electronic Resource
N=899
Very Important
Important
Neutral
Content Relevance to
library's collection
Unimportant
Not at all Important
83%
DK/NA
16%
1%
0%
•
Price
64%
Actual Content
33%
54%
Currency of
Information
41%
48%
Depth of coverage of
information
10%
20%
0%
7% 0%
1%
49%
35%
0%
4%
0%
1%
43%
46%
License agreement
terms
2%
0%
1%
4%1%
0%
0%
46%
30%
40%
50%
60%
13%
70%
The relevance of an electronic
resource’s content to the library’s
collection is top consideration when
evaluating an electronic resource for
purchase.
80%
90%
0%
1%5%
100%
How important are each of the following factors in your library’s decision to purchase
an electronic resource?
Asked only of those whose responsibilities include reviewing, evaluating,
recommending, or approving the purchase of electronic resources.
Slide 1 of 2
The Decision to Purchase an Electronic Resource
(cont’d)
N=899
Very Important
The authority of the
producer for the target
audience
Important
Neutral
Unimportant
34%
Ease of navigation
51%
30%
Ease of setting up
access mechanisms
20%
Ease of training users
19%
0%
10%
10% 1%
0%
46%
22%
50%
30%
40%
3%
0%
4%
24%
53%
20%
DK/NA
11% 1%
0%
2%
59%
26%
Time/cost of connecting
& maintaining
Not at all Important
50%
3%
2%
1%
24%
60%
70%
80%
•
Issues that have to do with the
ease of use for the library or ease
of use for the user are of least
importance when deciding to
purchase an electronic resource.
3%
1%
1%
90%
100%
How important are each of the following factors in your library’s decision to purchase an
electronic resource?
Slide 2 of 2
The Decision to Purchase an Electronic Resource
(by Institution Type)
Percent who said “Very Important”
• 4-year colleges were significantly
more likely than research universities
to cite issues relating to quality of
information and ease of use as being
“very important”. This may be due to
82%
84%
the fact that they are serving a
60%
66%
predominantly undergraduate
56%
52%
population that is less skilled in
44%
discerning quality information and less
50%
40%
skilled in the use of electronic
51%
43%
databases.
28%
Content relevance to library's collection
Price
Actual Content
Currency of Information
Depth of coverage of information
License agreement terms
34%
32%
The authority of the producer for the target audience
25%
Ease of navigation
•
32%
26%
24%
Ease of setting up access mechanisms
18%
22%
Time/cost of connecting & maintaining
14%
Ease of training users
0%
10%
20%
Research University N=371
Four Year College N=426
23%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
How important are each of the following factors in your library’s decision to
purchase an electronic resource?
90% 100%
Research universities were
significantly more likely to say license
agreement terms were a very important
factor in the decision to purchase an
electronic resource. This may be
because many universities have more
than one campus, so they may be
concerned about the ability to use
resources at more than one location.
Assessing the Value of an
Owned Electronic Resource:
N=1007
•
Usage data is the most common
way libraries assess the value of an
electronic resource, followed by
user feedback and the cost of an
electronic resource compared to a
similar print resource.
•
Only 3% of librarians said their
library does not assess the value of
electronic resources.
83%
Usage data
User feedback
71%
Cost of electronic resource compared to similar
print resource
71%
7%
Other
DK/NA
6%
We do not assess the value of electronic
resources
3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90% 100%
How does your library assess the value of an electronic resource? (check all that apply)
Library Staffing Needs and
Librarian Responsibilities
Library Staffing Needs Have Changed
•
The most common changes to the
library’s staffing needs were the
addition of IT staff and/or addition
of a webmaster.
•
Sixty-four percent of respondents
indicated that their library added at
least one of the positions listed.
•
Under “other” responses, 12% of
respondents commented that their
library was in need of additional
staffing, but funding was not
available. This situation resulted
in extra responsibilities being
placed on the existing library staff,
which resulted in librarians feeling
overloaded.
•
Less than 1% of librarians
mentioned under “other” that their
library added an electronic
resource librarian.
N=1007
Added information technology staff
48%
Added a webmaster
38%
Added a site licensing specialist
12%
Electronic resources have not affected staffing
needs
9%
Added a data management librarian
7%
Increased staffing in order to be 'open' 24/7
4%
Reduced the overall number of full time staff
4%
Other
19%
DK/NA
7%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
How have electronic resources and the Internet directly changed your library’s
staffing needs? (check all that apply)
90% 100%
Library Staffing Needs Have Changed
(by Institution Type)
Added information technology
staff
•
Research universities were
significantly more likely to add IT
staff, a webmaster, a site licensing
specialist, or a data management
librarian than were 4-year colleges.
•
Interestingly, a significantly larger
percentage of librarians from
research universities also said that
the overall number of full time
staff was reduced as a result of
electronic resources and the
internet compared to 4-year
colleges.
59%
41%
51%
Added a webmaster
27%
Added a site licensing
specialist
3%
Added a data management
librarian
3%
25%
12%
Reduced the overall number of
full time staff
8%
2%
Increased staffing in order to
be 'open' 24/7
6%
3%
15%
Other
21%
DK/NA
4%
Electronic resources have not
affected staffing needs
3%
8%
Research University N=397
Four Year College N=482
12%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
How have electronic resources and the Internet directly changed your library’s staffing
needs? (check all that apply)
100%
Librarians are Taking on Many Responsibilities
Related to Electronic Resources
N=1007
Eighty percent of respondents said
they were responsible for three or
more of the responsibilities listed.
•
More than three quarters of the
librarians surveyed said they were
responsible for instructing users,
reviewing/evaluating electronic
resources for purchase and/or
recommending electronic resources
for purchase
91%
Instruct users
Review/evaluate for purchase
80%
Recommend for purchase
78%
Evaluate usage
50%
Make retention decisions
50%
27%
Approve purchase
Review license agreements
22%
Other
No responsibilities
•
5%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Which of these responsibilities related to electronic resources do you carry out?
(check all that apply)
90%
100%
Librarians are Taking on More Responsibilities
Related to Electronic Resources
(by Length of Time as a Librarian)
•
85%
Instruct users
96%
80%
80%
Review/evaluate for purchase
77%
79%
Recommend for purchase
53%
Evaluate usage
48%
54%
Make retention decisions
46%
34%
Approve purchase
20%
22%
21%
Review license agreements
4%
6%
Other
No responsibilities
More than 15 years as a Librarian (N=477)
15 years or less as a Librarian (N=530)
1%
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Which of these responsibilities related to electronic resources do you carry out?
(check all that apply)
100%
Many responsibilities related to
electronic resources were related to
time having been a librarian.
Respondents who had been a
librarian for 15 years or less were
more likely to be responsible for
instructing users. Those who had
been a librarian for 15 years or
more were more likely to be
responsible for making retention
decisions and approving the
purchase of electronic resources.
Electronic Resources Require New Skills
for Librarians
N=1007
• The vast majority of librarians
No
14%
Yes
81%
DK/NA
5%
responded that electronic resources
require new job skills. However, only
56% of the librarians report that their
institution has provided additional
technical training to help librarians meet
these new needs.
• As one respondent said in reference to
new skills needed: “The list of what
librarians 'should' know is just too darn
long.”
Does the presence of electronic resources require new skills or
qualifications for librarians?
New Skills Needed
N=819
•
There are a wide range of new skills
needed by librarians as a result of the
presence of electronic resources.
Computer related skills (such as a
fundamental knowledge of how
computers work, and being familiar
with various software programs) were
cited most often by the librarians
surveyed.
•
As one respondent said:
“Increasingly, the comfort level with
computers is becoming a greater
concern. While this is in a sense a
'new' skill set, few of the newly
minted librarians have difficulty
adjusting to the more computer
oriented environment. It is often a
different matter with older librarian of
the 45+ set.”
44%
Overall computing skills, software skills
34%
Web development/programming
29%
General search skills
Database knowledge, skillful in the use of electronic resources
27%
Instruct users
27%
20%
Troubleshooting skills
17%
Decisions about purchase of electronic resources
Knowledge of the internet
11%
Dealing with networking, proxy server, access issues
11%
13%
Other
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Please list out the new skills or qualifications needed.
50%
60%
70%
80%
90% 100%
How Problematic are These New Demands?
N=1007
Very Problematic
Somewhat Problematic
Slightly Problematic
Librarians have less opportunity to instruct users
who access the library remotely
Not at all Problematic
29%
Librarians need to keep up with the various
electronic resources available
18%
Librarians are taking on new job responsibilities
16%
New skills and areas of expertise are needed
among library staff
12%
Time and energy must be spent teaching users
how to use electronic resources
12%
0%
10%
37%
26%
44%
26%
37%
31%
30%
15% 1%
31%
40%
50%
60%
27%
70%
80%
Among the potential problems
with electronic resources,
librarians see their diminished
opportunity to instruct users
who access the library remotely
as being the most problematic.
•
Although answers to previous
questions indicate that librarians
are taking on more
responsibility as a result of the
presence of electronic resources,
only 16% find this “very
problematic”. Another 42%
view it as being “somewhat
problematic”.
12%
10% 6%
36%
•
7%1%
27%
42%
20%
Does not apply
90%
100%
Below are some potential problems libraries might encounter with electronic resources.
Please indicate the degree to which each of the following has been problematic in any way
to your library. If the statement does not apply to your library, please check the “Does not
apply” box.
The Pros and Cons of
Electronic Resources
Benefits of Electronic Resources
N=1007
Very Beneficial
Somewhat Beneficial
Slightly Beneficial
Not at all Beneficial
Available to users 24/7
Does not apply
76%
19%
1%
3%
1%
•
Provide the library with material they would
otherwise not have the resources to purchase
69%
Can be used simultaneously by multiple users
61%
Some materials are more readily available
electronically
59%
0%
10%
20%
30%
24%
31%
31%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
1%
5%
1%
The main benefits of electronic
resources relate to user access and
providing the library with material
it may not otherwise have.
8%1%
0%
3%
7%1%
90% 100%
Below are some potential benefits of electronic resources. Please rate the degree to
which each of the following has been beneficial in any way to your library. If the
statement does not apply to your library, check the “Does not apply” box.
Slide 1 of 2
Benefits of Electronic Resources (cont’d)
•
The ability to track individual titles
rated lowest among benefits. This
may be due to the variability in the
quality of reports produced by
publishers of electronic resources.
•
“Time efficient for librarians” was
also rated low among benefits.
While electronic resources may
often save time when helping
patrons look up information, they
can be time consuming in that they
add addition responsibilities to the
librarian’s role.
N=1007
Very Beneficial
Somewhat Beneficial
Sometimes result in a
shorter "wait time" for the
availability of an item
Slightly Beneficial
47%
Electronic resources take
up less space
Time efficient for
librarians
0%
20%
38%
21%
21%
38%
20%
12%
32%
32%
10%
Does not apply
37%
42%
Permit the tracking of
individual titles
Not at all Beneficial
30%
40%
28%
50%
60%
70%
3%2%
6% 4%
6%
80%
2%
2%
90%
Below are some potential benefits of electronic resources. Please rate the degree to
which each of the following has been beneficial in any way to your library. If the
statement does not apply to your library, check the “Does not apply” box.
7%
100%
Slide 2 of 2
Benefits of Electronic Resources
(by Institution Type)
Percent who said “Very Beneficial”
•
Librarians from 4-year colleges
were significantly more likely to
say that providing the library with
material that they would otherwise
not have the resources to purchase
was “very beneficial”. This could
be due to smaller library budgets in
4-year colleges than in research
universities.
•
Benefits related to the availability
of materials were significantly more
likely to be rated “very beneficial”
by research university librarians.
Since these universities have a
strong focus on research, access to
more materials in a timely fashion
may be particularly beneficial to
their users.
79%
76%
Available to users 24/7
Provide the library with material they would
otherwise not have the resources to purchase
57%
75%
62%
60%
Can be used simultaneously by multiple users
Some materials are more readily available
electronically
65%
54%
Sometimes result in a shorter "wait time" for the
availability of an item
54%
40%
39%
44%
Electronic resources take up less space
28%
32%
Time efficient for librarians
Research University N=397
Four Year College N=482
23%
20%
Permit the tracking of individual titles
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Problems with Electronic Resources
N=1007
Very Problematic
Somewhat Problematic
Slightly Problematic
Many publishers of electronic resources do not
guarantee archived copies
70%
The high cost of some electronic resources
70%
Deletions in an aggregated resource can lead to a
hole in the library's archives
58%
Titles our library wants to keep may be dropped
from an aggregated electronic resource
52%
The publisher of an electronic resource may go out
of business
49%
0%
10% 20%
Not at all Problematic
DK/NA
21%
30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
•
The lack of guaranteed archives is
particularly problematic because if
publisher drops a title or goes out of
business, the library is left with a
hole in their archives.
4%
1%
1%
31%
34%
The lack of guaranteed archived
copies and the high cost of some
electronic resources were rated as the
most problematic aspects of
electronic resources.
5%
1%
3%
25%
33%
•
9%1%
2%
11% 2%
2%
13% 2%
2%
80% 90% 100%
To what degree do you consider each of the following problematic in any way for
your library?
Slide 1 of 2
Problems with Electronic Resources (cont’d)
N=1007
Very Problematic
Somewhat Problematic
Slightly Problematic
Some aggregators require maintenance of
print subscriptions in order to receive the
electronic subscription
Not at all Problematic
37%
41%
DK/NA
14%
5%3%
•
Some control of the library's "collection" is
shifted from librarians to the publishers
32%
Electronic resources may result in the
duplication of materials
12%
Aggregated resources may contain titles to
which our library might not otherwise choose
to subscribe
10%
0%
10%
38%
20%
40%
33%
31%
20%
30%
7%3%
30%
40%
50%
60%
14% 1%
28%
70%
To what degree do you consider each of the following problematic in any
way for your library?
80%
Among the potential problems listed,
the possible duplication of materials
and the inclusion of titles in
aggregated resources that the library
would not otherwise subscribe to
were the least problematic.
2%
90% 100%
Slide 2 of 2
Problems with Electronic Resources
(by Institution Type)
Percent who said “Very Problematic”
Many publishers of electronic resources do not guarantee
archived copies
77%
66%
73%
70%
The high cost of some electronic resources
Deletions in an aggregated resource can lead to a hole in the
library's archives
•
59%
58%
Titles our library wants to keep may be dropped from an
aggregated resource
50%
55%
51%
48%
The publisher of an electronic resource may go out of business
Some aggregators require maintenance of print subscriptions
in order to receive the electronic subscription
37%
40%
Some control of the library's "collection" is shifted from
librarians to the publishers
35%
30%
Electronic resources may result in the duplication of materials
13%
10%
Aggregated resources may contain titles to which our library
might not otherwise subscribe
12%
8%
Research University N=397
0%
10%
20%
Four Year College N=482
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
To what degree do you consider each of the following problematic in any way for your library?
90% 100%
Research universities were
more likely to say that the lack
of guarantee of an archived
copy from electronic
publishers was “very
problematic”.
Patrons Use of the Library
Patrons Use of the Library
N=1007
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neither Agree nor Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Users increasingly demand electronic resources
Strongly Disagree
72%
Library users come to the physical library less
often than they did 5 years ago
31%
Users primarily use the library online from their
homes and offices rather than physically coming to
the library building
13%
In 5 years, our librarian interaction with users will
5%
be predominantly electronic
0%
24%
24%
37%
45%
17%
DK/NA
•
The majority of librarians strongly
agreed that users are increasingly
demanding electronic resources.
•
Very few librarians, however, agreed
that in 5 years, their interaction with
users would be predominantly
electronic.
2%
1%
0%
9% 11% 8% 5%
12%
33%
19%
8% 3%
17%
3%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements.
Users Primarily Use the Library for:
•
Only 24% of librarians surveyed said
that students primarily use the library
for accessing information in the
stacks.
•
The librarians were more likely to
say that the physical library is used
for its facilities, (either as a study
location or for computer access) than
for the information available in the
stacks.
•
Many of the “other” responses
indicated that patrons use the library
equally as a study place, for the
stacks, and for the computing
facilities.
N=1007
DK/NA
5%
A study place
28%
A place to gain
access to
computing facilities
28%
Other
14%
A place to hold
meetings
1%
Accessing
information that is in
the stacks
24%
Users now primarily use the physical library building for:
The Role of
Print Resources
Print Resources are Still Necessary
N=1007
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neither Agree nor Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
There is a risk involved when canceling print
subscriptions in favor of electronic subscriptions
51%
Electronic resources do not replace print
resources
40%
25%
Electronic resources that refer to both print
resources increase the use of print resources
7%
27%
Electronic resources make print resources
1%11% 6%
unnecessary
0%
10%
9% 11% 6%
0%
40%
20%
20%
15%
30%
More than half agreed that there is
a risk when canceling print in favor
of electronic resources and that
electronic resources do not replace
print.
•
Most do agree, however, that
electronic resources diminish the
use of print.
13% 4%
3%
30%
26%
•
4%
3%
1%
1%
11% 10%2%
0%
49%
20%
More than half of the librarians
surveyed disagreed that electronic
resources make print unnecessary
and 48% disagreed that the
library’s materials would be
primarily electronic in 5 years.
DK/NA
42%
38%
Electronic resources diminish the use of print
resources
In 5 years, our library's resources will be
predominantly electronic
Strongly Disagree
•
18%
3%
56%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Please rate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements on how
electronic resources have affected the use of print resources.
90% 100%
Why is Print Still Necessary?
•
When asked to list why they
believed print resources were still
necessary, the top reason librarians
gave was that in many cases print
is preferred by users. Users often
prefer print because it is easier to
handle, easier to read, and it has
better graphics.
•
Surprisingly, given their previous
answers, less than a third of
librarians said print is necessary
for ensured archiving.
•
Quote from one respondent: “As an
academic librarian involved in
teaching research skills, I am
concerned that research is
perceived to be quick and easy, that
all questions can be answered with
a few simple keystrokes. In fact for
many questions, a review of many
sources (print and non-print) may
be necessary, including older
material.”
N=820
Print is preferred by users/easier to use
47%
Not all print resources are available in electronic format
36%
Print is necessary for ensured archiving
27%
Some items are more suitable to print
21%
Network problems impede use of electronic resources
18%
Historical/Archival record is available in print and often not in
electronic
15%
Electronic versions not always as complete as the print version
11%
Budget Restraints
Other
9%
1%
0%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Please tell us more about why you say print resources are still necessary? Asked only of
those who somewhat or strongly disagreed that print resources were unnecessary.
Most Libraries Retain Print Versions of
Electronic Resources
N=1007
•
The vast majority of librarians said
that their library retains print
versions of electronic resources.
This may be indicative of librarian’s
uneasiness with the reliability of
electronic resources.
•
As one respondent said: “Technology
is great--when it works. It's always a
good idea to have a back-up.”
No
22%
Yes
78%
Does your library retain print versions of electronic resources?
What is Your Policy Regarding Retaining Print
Resources?
•
The most common response given
was that libraries did not have a
policy regarding the retention of
print resources that are available
electronically, or that the library
decided on a case by case basis
whether to retain the print. This
may be due to the range of cost,
quality, etc. of electronic resources.
As one respondent said: “Our policy
takes into account each resource
individually and assesses the cost of
the print and electronic versions and
licensing agreement requirements
and patron usage.”
•
Eleven percent of librarians
surveyed said their library retained
all print resources even though they
were available electronically.
N=784
No policy/case by case basis
35%
Retain if no guarantee of an archived copy
15%
Retain if heavily used item
14%
Retain when required by license agreement
13%
Retain all
11%
Cancel if required by budget constraints
8%
Retain if part of the core collection
7%
Retain if easier/more useful/preferred by users
7%
Retain when electronic version is incomplete
7%
Retain volumes that are not available online
6%
Retain if electronic resource is not reliable
6%
Retain if space is available
5%
Other
12%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Please tell us your policy regarding retaining print versions of
electronic resources.
80%
100%
Key Findings
Purchase of Electronic Resources
•
•
•
Money is primarily diverted from serials and books to pay for electronic resources.
Content relevance to the library’s collection is the most important consideration when purchasing an electronic resource.
Issues related to ease of use are least important when purchasing an electronic resource.
Staffing and Responsibilities
•
•
•
Many institutions have added staff to accommodate demands of electronic resources, particularly IT staff and
webmasters.
Librarians are taking on multiple responsibilities related to electronic resources.
The largest problem related to librarians’ job responsibilities is the loss of opportunity to instruct users now that users are
often accessing library resources from remote locations.
Pros and Cons
•
24/7 access is the most beneficial aspect of electronic resources.
•
Lack of guaranteed archives from publishers and the high costs are the most problematic aspects of electronic resources.
Patrons Use of the Library
•
•
The library is used equally for a study place, computer access and accessing information in the stacks.
While most librarians agree that users increasingly demand electronic resources and that users come to the physical
library less often than they did 5 years ago, they do not agree that in 5 years librarian interaction with users will be
predominantly electronic.
Role of Print
•
Print still plays a major role in scholarly communication, and it is expected to continue to do so.
•
Print is often preferred by users over electronic resources because it is sometimes easier to use, and it has better
graphics.
Conclusions
Conclusions
• Electronic resources are perceived as being beneficial to libraries. They allow libraries to better
serve their patrons by providing 24/7 access, and materials that the library might not otherwise be able
to provide.
• However, they also seem to be creating a hardship for some libraries – they require extra funding to
purchase, which many libraries are not receiving in their base budget. This means that libraries are
needing to divert money from other items in their budget in order to afford electronic resources. The
two items that are primarily being hit are serial publications and books.
• Electronic resources are also creating extra job responsibilities that need to be carried out, and many
of these are falling onto existing librarians. (Again, funding from administrations is not forthcoming.)
These librarians are feeling overloaded by these new responsibilities. Furthermore, new skills are
needed among library staff in order to carry out these responsibilities.
• One of the largest problems with electronic resources is that publishers often do not guarantee
archives. This is problematic in that if a publisher drops a title from an aggregated resource, or if the
publisher goes out of business, the library is left with a hole in their archive. Another major problem
with many electronic resources is the high cost.
• Although users are increasingly demanding electronic resources, it seems that electronic resources
will not replace print resources until they become easier to use, have graphics that are equal to print,
and have an archive guarantee.