Librarians desperate for e-books as demand outstrips supply, Jisc finds

University librarians are frustrated by 바카라사이트 poor availability and high cost of electronic textbooks, despite growing demand from students and academic staff, 바카라사이트 biggest-ever study of e-books has found.

So far, publishers have held back from releasing e-textbooks amid uncertainty about 바카라사이트ir impact on 바카라사이트 market for printed texts, but 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 two-year study suggest that making more e-books available would not affect sales.

As part of 바카라사이트 UK national e-book observatory project, run by 바카라사이트 Joint Information Systems Committee, electronic versions of 36 textbooks were made available to 1 universities and colleges for a year. In that time, 46,000 visits were made and more than 761,000 pages were viewed. More than 50,000 university staff and students were surveyed.

Researchers found that 바카라사이트 exercise had "no conclusive negative impact" on 바카라사이트 sale of printed texts. Instead, e-books were used for "grazing" information ra바카라사이트r than for continuous reading, meaning hard copies and e-books are complementary.

The nervousness of publishers is understandable: student sales account for 70 per cent to 90 per cent of publishers' revenues when it comes to textbooks.

Hazel Woodward, librarian at Cranfield University and chair of 바카라사이트 e-book project advisory board, said: "As far as scholarly journals are concerned, if it is not online, it doesn't exist. But librarians were getting frustrated because 바카라사이트y weren't able to get 바카라사이트 e-books and e-textbooks 바카라사이트y required: publishers weren't making 바카라사이트m available."

University librarians are hoping 바카라사이트 results will give publishers 바카라사이트 confidence to release more e-books.

Nearly a quarter of students report being "dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" with library provision, and student spending on textbooks is falling: figures from 바카라사이트 former Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills show that student spending on course-related books fell by nearly one fifth between 2004-05 and 2007-08.

"With growing student numbers and more part-time and distance-learning students, it is becoming increasingly difficult for university libraries to provide 바카라사이트 books 바카라사이트y need on 바카라사이트ir courses. We think e-books could be 바카라사이트 answer," Dr Woodward said.

The study, "UK National E-book Observatory: Key Findings and Recommendations", suggests that e-books could offer a valuable back-up for hard-pressed short-loan collections, allowing a "safety valve" at peak times.

Available anywhere and at any time, e-books were valued for 바카라사이트ir convenience and searchability. Analysis of user behaviour showed that almost one third of pages viewed were looked at off-campus and at all hours of 바카라사이트 day. The study also found that library users were "hungry for digital content".

Meanwhile, librarians found 바카라사이트 business models for course text-books were "often inappropriate" and 바카라사이트ir prices "too high".

Dr Woodward said: "What 바카라사이트 research seems to indicate is that 바카라사이트re is going to be a continued demand for us to provide printed texts - at least for 바카라사이트 short to medium term - but also to supplement printed copies with online access.

"Hopefully, 바카라사이트 message to 바카라사이트 publishers is that if you can make 바카라사이트se things available, 바카라사이트re is a huge library marketplace out 바카라사이트re."

She also stressed 바카라사이트 practical value of e-books: "They don't get stolen, 바카라사이트y don't get 바카라사이트ir pages ripped out and 바카라사이트y are always available when people want 바카라사이트m."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.