Library Review 57.9 (September 2008): p676-689. doi: 10.1108/00242530810911798 (University of Illinois Access)
Why should you read this: More in depth analysis of NetLibrary collections have been conducted, but there are some interesting similarities between e-book users and non-users reviewed. At least worth skimming.
At a glance [and my thoughts]:
An analysis of the use of two netLibrary e-book collections, and a survey 18 users of those collections (half e-book users, half non e-book users).
Interesting quote: "Despite their positive reaction and attitudes towards e-books, students commented that e-books needed to be promoted more strongly and that there were limitations with respect to use." P. 676
Interesting quote: "…the larger the number of e-titles in a subject collection then the larger the percentage of e-titles accessed." [A critical mass of electronic books is necessary in a patrons subject area before they begin to except, and heavily use, those e-collections?] p.679
Interesting quote: "it can be concluded that the largest subject holdings and the most accessed subject vary depending on the specialisms of the institutions, the number of titles subscribed to by the institutions' libraries, and the e-book promotion conducted by the institutions and their staff." p.682
Interesting quote: "respondents preferred to use a printed book (94 per cent) for 'extended reading'…. Respondents (67 per cent) preferred to use an e-book for both 'finding relevant content' and 'fact finding'." p.685
Interesting quote: "search tasks that involved simple and advanced searches were rated as 'easy' in general … The test… demonstrated no significant relationship in so far as users' experience of using or not using e-books before the survey did not influence their rating of the ease of use of the search and browse tasks." p.688
