Textbooks Weighing You Down? Check Out Our eReaders

Brandes-Miesner, Marta

Brannon, S. & Sears (2014). Textbooks weighing you down? Check out our e-readers. Technical

Services Quarterly, 31(3), 237-247. DOI: 10.1080/07317131.2014.908588 

Summary:

Through a grant received by the University of North Texas, the University Bookstore was able to purchase eReaders for students who were unable to purchase them to be able to use for accessing their textbooks in electronic form. Although they distinctly did not set out to undertake an intense research study analysis of the eReader and electronic text books program success, it was ultimately necessary as a means to plan for the future. The idea was to eliminate a lack of knowledge and fiscal barriers prohibiting the use of eReaders and electronic textbooks. Overall, the program was a great success but warranted several changes and adjustments such as implementing a wait list, planning for early returns, staff training and additional survey and textbook allowance modifications.  It served as a pilot program and due to its success will be a model for other libraries setting up similar programs in their libraries.

Evaluation:

This article is valuable in its practical application of this type of program implementation. It provides the basis for requiring such an undertaking, the elements of the grant requirements, application and acquisition. It provides the scenario which prompted the implementation of both the project and the study, the subsequent use and outcomes. It also detailed the results of the study and the reasons for any future adjustments in the program and in the survey itself. This pilot program and study proves to be a valuable resource for other school, academic and with possible considerations and alterations even for public libraries.

 

Adoption of e-Book Readers Among College Students

Nicole J. Hoback

Reference:

Foasbert, N. M. (2011). Adoption of e-Book Readers among College Students: A

            Survey. Information Technology & Libraries. 30(3), 108-128.

Summary:

In the article “Adoption of e-Book Readers among College Students,” discusses the 2011 college student survey from the urban, four-year public college, Queens College, on varying aspects concerning e-Books and e-Readers. 1,705 students participated in the survey and showed positives about e-Readers and e-Books, but not all were so enthusiastic. The main analysis of the survey was to understand who owns e-Readers and how do they use these tablets. In a 2010 a survey conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life, found that only 5% of Americans owned an e-Readers. At the time Amazon and Barnes and Noble e-Readers were around $300. While this seems hard to imagine, now that one can purchase an Amazon Kindle Fire for as low as $49.99. Of the students who participated in the survey, 401 students stated that they use e-Books, but not on an e-Reader. Price was the largest obstacle as to why the students were not willing to purchase an e-Reader, but acknowledged that if the library were to purchase e-Readers that they would check one out. This survey not only gives an insight into the students feelings about e-Readers, but also how even a few years of technology development can change the once foreign e-Reader into a popular student option.

Evaluation:

While I found this survey very useful, it also is a testament to how quickly technology development and opinions of these technologies can change. Since the survey indicated that the price of e-Readers was the biggest deterrent from purchasing one, I would like to think that the purchase of these devices has been on the rise since the dramatic drop in price, since this interview was conducted. I think that reading older surveys, especially those based on technology, are great to reference when seeing how technology has changed and developed, but it is important to understand that changes in technology have changed and evolved since 2011, when the survey was conducted.

A View from Outside the Box

Lederer, Haylee

Bradford, R. (2015). A View from Outside the Box. Library Journal, 140(12), 50. 

Summary: This short article discusses a particular problem that a lot of libraries face today: music licensing. It brings attention to issues that the digital age is producing for libraries. The author claims that "Many librarians may not be aware that playing music during programs, or for most purposes, requires a license" (pg. 50). This has the capacity to bring unnecessary legal issues to libraries, who may or may not have the means to handle them. The author expresses surprise at this problem, because of how wholeheartedly most libraries embrace digital content.

Evaluation: This article was really short, but it served as a good source to start looking into libraries and digital issues. It presents the reader with a specific library who is dealing with this issue. It could also be used as inspiration for other libraries who maybe dealing with the same thing. I found the article really interesting, because music and copyright are not things that I think about very often. Because of the radio and internet streaming, music just seems always readily available, as well as free. As librarians, I think it's important to remember that there are legal hoops that need to be jumped through if the institution is interested in providing music for its patrons.

Young adult Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) non-fiction collections and countywide anti-discrimination policies.

Kimura, Camden

Stringer-Stanback, K. (2011). Young adult Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) non-fiction collections and countywide anti-discrimination policies. Urban Library Journal, 17 (1), 1-27.

Summary: In this article, Stringer-Stanback described her study of LGBTQ non-fiction collections in Southeastern states in the USA (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia) and whether there was a correlation between amount of non-fiction books on LGBTQ topics in the public library system and anti-discrimination policies in the counties in which the public libraries resided. She had two hypotheses: 1) that counties with LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinances would be more likely to have a Young Adult LGBTQ non-fiction materials in public libraries; 2) that counties without LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinances would be less likely to have Young Adult LGBTQ non-fiction materials.

Stringer-Stanback ultimate found that the statistics she found were not significant to prove her hypotheses. Only 25% of the counties she looked at had 50% or more of the titles on her 23 item non-fiction materials list. What she did find evidence of was counties with that were more demographically diverse had more items on her list.  She recommends further studies into the relationship on demographically diverse counties and Young Adult LGBTQ non-fiction collections.

Evaluation: This was an interesting article; I expected to see some correlation between anti-discrimination policies and library collections and was surprised that Stringer-Stanback found so little evidence to prove that. That her hypotheses were not proven suggests that there are more factors at work in the creation of collections than county policy. Of course, this is going to be true of any collection, but I did expect that county policy would have some influence on library collections. I did wonder if Stringer-Stanback’s list was maybe too short: she only had 23 items on her list and the items either came from awards lists (LAMBDA Literary Foundation Awards, Stonewall Awards) or from the ALA GLBT Roundtable bibliography. If there are only 23 LGBTQ non-fiction materials for young adults, then I find that extremely disheartening. Otherwise, she might want to look at expanding her list.

One fact she had that I found especially interesting is that all libraries she examined had What Becomes of the Brokenhearted: A Memoir by E. Lynn Harris. This memoir is about Harris’ life as an African-American man and a gay man in the South. I wondered if this suggests that libraries are more likely to have LGBTQ non-fiction that is geographically relevant. However, I have no other evidence to back that thought up and it might be another idea worth studying.

Non-traditional library collections – in digital and other worlds.

Mindie Marsh

NT

Michnik, K. & Eriksson, C. (2014). Non-traditional library collections – in digital and other worlds. Interlending & Document Supply, 42(4), p.165-170. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ILDS-09-2014-0043

Summary
This article focused on non-traditional collections and how they might be developed. Non-traditional collections are often developed to attract new users to the library or based on user requests, but the authors argue that this can create unrealistic expectations of what the library is. Instead they encourage developing non-traditional collections based on items that will contribute to a library goal or activity. The article is written in Sweden so they look at common European library goals, but they are not terribly different than those in America. Creating a sustainable society, improving the population, informing a democratic society, social inclusiveness, equal opportunities and environmental impact. Based on these goals different libraries offered games, fitness and hiking equipment, electricity meters, opportunities to learn languages or be creative.

Evaluation

I found this article while searching for information about digital collections, and while it was different from what I was seeking, I found it valuable. The more I have heard about things like Maker Spaces in libraries the more I have wondered what justifies that expenditure over other parts of a library collection. Though the article did not address maker spaces directly, it did help clear this up for me. Michnik & Eriksson (2014) really explained that it all has to do with the institutional goals of the library or larger organization. My local library loans cultural passes, that provide free admission to local museums because part of the library's mission statement is to provide access to the universe of ideas and information. I was thinking as I was reading about libraries loaning hiking gear that that would be a very useful service here, but the expense is not oriented to the library's larger goals, and so is not justified. 

Collection Directions: Some Reflections on the Future of Library Collections and Collecting

Hooper, Pamela

Dempsey, L., Malpas, C., Lavoie, B. (2014). Collection directions: Some reflections on the future of library collections and collecting. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 14(3), pp. 393–423. Retrieved from http://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/portal_libraries_and_the_academy/portal_pre_print/articles/14.3dempsey.pdf

Summary: The authors discuss several aspects of library collections and their observations on the changing nature of these collections. They begin with a discussion of bundling. They express that libraries are in the process of transitioning from being a sole information provider with the need to collect relevant print materials to provide to patrons, to a network center which provides access to the information needed utilizing external services which are more cost effective. They explain how the financial impact of less expensive networked services benefits libraries in a variety of ways. For the user it means that the discovery process has become far more global as resources can be accessed through the cloud rather than being limited to local selections. Data-driven environments allow access to available data from social networks like Goodreads, or Google Scholar, allowing libraries to make more informed collection development decisions. This ability is heightened when you consider patron selections, intralibrary loans, etc.

The authors also touch on the necessity for a collection of available data within the cloud. They stress that the cloud, as a source of knowledge on scholarly topics, allows researchers instantaneous access to raw data without waiting years for publication. It also allows libraries to focus their collections on uniqueness and stewardship/scarcity, rather then widely available information. Noting the limited staffing for libraries with large special collections, they note the trend toward inviting the public to do some of the basic cataloging work. An example of this might be the New York Public Library's Building Inspector application. They also speak to the public's demand for access to publicly funded research.

 Evaluation: I really enjoyed this article. The authors shared their vision of the future of library collections and gave me quite a bit to think about and consider. Not having managed an academic collection, their thorough explanation of the current trends gave me a good foundation towards understanding their hypothesis for the future.

10,000 Zines and Counting: A library's quest to save the history of Fandom!

          

       Ward, Tyler

         Robertson, A. (2015, September 4). 10,000 zines and counting: a library’s quest to save the history of fandom | The Verge.  from http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/4/9257455/university-iowa-fanzine-fan-culture-preservation-project  Retrieved September 13, 2015,

      Summary: This blog posts details the Special Collection of the University of Iowa and their current project: saving fanzines. First question, what is a fanzine? A fanzine is a magazine usually for a specific fandom (Superman, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, you get the picture), but a fanzine is done usually by the community, and by amateurs. A modern online example would be TORN (TheOneRing.net) a fandom website that is 100% dedicated to keeping the Tolkien fandom updated on goings on in publishing, cinema, or other related Tolkien news. This tracks some of the earliest cases of "fandom" and how the communities developed

     Evaluation: Fanzines are important and show the different ways that users of information can collaborate on a single project. It's certainly interesting historically because we can see how fandoms have changed through the century and how communities developed and interacted with information. It's also interesting because it shows how the average user can be a creator!