UK scholarly e-book usage: a landmark survey

• Published in: Aslib proceedings Vol. 60; no. 4; pp. 311 - 334
• Main Authors: Nicholas, David, Rowlands, Ian, Clark, David, Huntington, Paul, Jamali, Hamid R, Ollé, Candela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Group Publishing Limited 01.01.2008
• Subjects: Academic libraries; E-books; Electronic periodicals; Higher education; Humanities; Information professionals; Information seeking behavior; Library and information science; Observatories; Polls & surveys; Response rates; Scholarly publishing; Students; Textbooks; University libraries; Electronic books; Libraries; Students; User studies
• ISSN: 0001-253X; 2050-3806; 1758-3748
• DOI: 10.1108/00012530810887962

Purpose - This JISC funded UK National E-Books Observatory study is a benchmarking survey of e-book usage and perceptions in more than 120 participating universities. The paper aims to present the results that investigated: use of e-books in general (methods of obtaining e-books, reasons for using, viewing reading behaviour in connection with e-books); use of e-books provided by the library; use of JISC collection texts (use and awareness); use of the library and print material in general.Design methodology approach - The study is based on an online survey which was conducted between 18 January and 1 March 2008, over which period 22,437 full or partial responses were received.Findings - The study shows that e-book penetration is very strong (61.8 per cent of all students are already using them in connection with their scholarly work, as teachers or students), so the e-book revolution has already happened but clearly it has some way to go.Originality value - The paper presents the results of the biggest survey of its kind ever conducted, which represents a huge advance in one's knowledge of e-book use on a national scale.