EPIC Online Publishing Use and Costs Evaluation Program

Transcription

1 EPIC Online Publishing Use and Costs Evaluation Program Overview Overview of Evaluation Program Research update 1

2 Purpose of EPIC Evaluation Program To investigate how online electronic resources affect different aspects of the scholarly communication process. a) general perspective b) through lens of EPIC projects How Does the Shift to Electronic Resources Affect the Following Groups? Publishers Administrators/Information Technology Librarians Faculty Students 2

3 Research Approach Interviews Focus Groups Surveys Weblog analysis Info gathering Survey development Research Projects to Date Student Interviews Faculty Interviews Librarian Focus Group Librarian Online Survey 3

4 Librarian Online Survey Methodology a 15 minute online survey of librarians was conducted in Winter, ,120 invitations 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 respondents (response rate: 32%) 4

5 Objectives Gain insights into the purchasing of online electronic resources. Gain insights into how online electronic resources affect the role of the librarian. Learn what librarians perceive as the benefits and disadvantages of online electronic resources. Gain insights into how online electronic resources affect the role of print resources. Respondent Profile 5

6 Gender/Number of Years as Librarian Female 69% Gender Male 31% 1 year - 10 years 38% How long have you been a librarian? 11 years - 20 years 27% More than 20 years 35% Type of Institution/Library Four-year College 48% Type of Institu tion Research University Community College 3% 39% Other 10% Main Library 84% Type of Library Special/Branch Library 13% Other 3% 6

7 Current Roles Reference, Public, Access or Information Services Librarian 80% Selector. Liaison Librarian, Subject Librarian 51% Collection Development Librarian 28% Electronic Resources Librarian 25% Library Administrator 20% Bibliographer 14% Librarian (General) 10% Acquisitions Librarian 5% Other Librarian 24% What are your current roles? (check all that apply) Purchase of Electronic Resources 7

8 Funding Sources for Electronic Resources N=413 Money diverted from other items in the library budget 75% Consortial funding 52% An increase in the library's base budget 43% Additional funding from my college/university 30% Supplemental state funding 18% Endowments 16% Other 7% DK/NA 7% 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: N=311 Budget for serial publications 77% Budget for books 73% Budget for microform journals 35% Budget for staff salaries 4% Other 5% DK/NA 9% 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. 8

9 The Decision to Purchase an Electronic Resource N=899 Very Important Important Neutral Unimportant Not at all Important DK/NA Content Relevance to library's collection 83% 16% 1% 0% Price 64% 33% 2% 0% 1% Actual Content 54% 41% 4% 0% 1% Currency of Information 48% 43% 7% 0% 1% Depth of coverage of information 46% 49% 4% 1%0% License agreement terms 35% 46% 13% 0% 1% 5% 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. The Decision to Purchase an Electronic Resource N=899 Very Important Important Neutral Unim portant Not at all Important DK/NA The authority of the producer for the target audience 34% 51% 11% 1% 0% 2% Ease of navigation 30% 59% 10% 1% 0% Ease of setting up access mechanisms 26% 46% 22% 3% 0% 4% Time/cost of connecting & maintaining 20% 50% 24% 2%1%3% Ease of training users 19% 53% 24% 3% 1% How important are each of the following factors in your library s decision to purchase an electronic resource? 9

10 Key Findings: Purchase of Electronic Resource 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 Library Staffing Needs and Librarian Responsibilities 10

11 Library Staffing Needs Have Changed Added information technology staff 48% Added a webmaster 38% Added a site licensing specialist Electronic resources have not affected staffing needs Added a data management librarian Increased staffing in order to be 'open' 24/7 Reduced the overall number of full time staff 12% 9% 7% 4% 4% Other 19% DK/NA 7% How have electronic resources and the Internet directly changed your library s staffing needs? (check all that apply) Librarians are Taking on Many Responsibilities Related to Electronic Resources Instruct users 91% Review/evaluate for purchase Recommend for purchase 80% 78% Perform technical assistance 64% Collaborate with faculty over training Evaluate usage Make retention decisions 52% 50% 50% Approve purchase 27% Review license agreements 22% Other 5% No responsibilities 0% Which of these responsibilities related to electronic resources do you carry out? (check all that apply) 11

12 Electronic Resources Require New Skills for Librarians No 14% DK/NA 5% Yes 81% 56% of institutions have provided additional technical training for librarians Does the presence of electronic resources require new skills or qualifications for librarians? New Skills Needed N=819 Overall computing skills, software skills 44% Web development/programming 34% General search skills 29% Database knowledge, skillful in the use of electronic resources 27% Instruct users 27% Troubleshooting skills 20% Decisions about purchase of electronic resources 17% Knowledge of the internet 11% Dealing with networking, proxy server, access issues 11% Other 13% Please list out the new skills or qualifications needed. 12

13 How Problematic are These New Demands? Very Problematic Somewhat Problematic Slightly Problematic Not at all Problematic Does not apply Librarians have less opportunity to instruct users who access the library remotely 29% 37% 26% 7% 1% Librarians need to keep up with the various electronic resources available 18% 44% 27% 12% 0% Librarians are taking on new job responsibilities 16% 42% 26% 10% 6% New skills and areas of expertise are needed among library staff 12% 37% 36% 15% 1% Time and energy must be spent teaching users how to use electronic resources 12% 31% 31% 27% 0% 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. Key Findings: Staffing and Responsibilities Many institutions have added staff to accommodate demands of electronic resources Librarians are taking on multiple responsibilities related to electronic resources Biggest problem is the loss of opportunity to instruct users 13

14 The Pros and Cons of Online Electronic Resources Benefits of Electronic Resources Very Beneficial Somewhat Beneficial Slightly Beneficial Not at all Beneficial Does not apply Electronic resources are available to users 24/7 76% 19% 3% 1% Electronic resources provide the library with material they would otherwise not have the resources to purchase 69% 24% 5% 1% Electronic resources can be used simultaneously by multiple users 61% 31% 8% 1% 0% Some materials that were not easily available in print are now more readily available electronically 59% 31% 7% 1% 3% 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 14

15 Benefits of Electronic Resources Very Beneficial Somewhat Beneficial Slightly Beneficial Not at all Beneficial Does not apply Electronic resources sometimes result in a shorter "wait time" for the availability of an item once it is published 47% 37% 12% 2% 2% Electronic resources take up less space 42% 32% 20% 3% 2% Time efficient for librarians 32% 38% 21% 6% 4% Electronic resources permit the tracking of individual titles 21% 38% 28% 6% 7% 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 2 of 2 Problems with Electronic Resources Very Problematic Somewhat Problematic Slightly Problematic Not at al Problematic DK/NA Many publishers of electronic resources do not guarantee archived copies 70% 21% 5% 1% 3% The high cost of some electronic resources 70% 25% 4% 1% Deletions in an aggregated resource can lead to a hole in the library's archives 58% 31% 9% 1% 2% Titles our library wants to keep may be dropped from an aggregated electronic resource 52% 33% 11% 2% 2% The publisher of an electronic resource may go out of business 49% 34% 13% 2% 2% To what degree do you consider each of the following problematic in any way for your library? Slide 1 of 2 15

16 Problems with Electronic Resources Very Problematic Somewhat Problematic Slightly Problematic Not at al Problematic DK/NA Some aggregators require maintenance of print subscriptions in order to receive the electronic subscription 37% 41% 14% 5% 3% Some control of the library's "collection" is shifted from librarians to the publishers 32% 38% 20% 7% 3% Electronic resources may result in the duplication of materials 12% 40% 33% 14% 1% Aggregated resources may contain titles to which our library might not otherwise choose to subscribe 10% 31% 30% 28% 2% To what degree do you consider each of the following problematic in any way for your library? Slide 2 of 2 Key Findings: Pros and Cons 24/7 access is the greatest benefit of electronic resources Lack of guaranteed archives and high costs are the most problematic aspect of electronic resources 16

17 Use of the Library Patrons Use of the Library Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Somewhat Disagree Strongly Disagree DK/NA Users increasingly demand electronic resources 72% 24% 2% 1% 0% Library users come to the physical library less often than they did 5 years ago 31% 37% 9% 11% 8% 5% Users primarily use the library online from their homes and offices rather than physically coming to the library building 13% 45% 12% 19% 8% 3% In 5 years, our librarian interaction with users will be predominantly electronic 5% 24% 17% 33% 17% 3% Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements. 17

18 Users Primarily Use the Library for: DK/NA 5% A study place 28% Other 14% A place to hold meetings 1% A place to gain access to computing facilities 28% Accessing information that is in the stacks 24% Users now primarily use the physical library building for: Role of Print Resources 18

19 Print Resources are Still Necessary Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Neither Agree nor Disagree Somewhat Disagree Strongly Disagree DK/NA There is a risk involved when canceling print subscriptions in favor of electronic subscriptions 51% 42% 4% 3% 1% Electronic resources do not replace print resources 38% 40% 11% 10% 2% 0% Electronic resources diminish the use of print resources 25% 49% 9% 11% 6% 0% Electronic resources that refer to both print and electronic resources increase the use of print resources by making users more aware of what is available in print 20% 40% 20% 13% 4% 3% In 5 years, our library's resources will be predominantly electronic 7% 27% 15% 30% 18% 3% Electronic resources make print resources unnecessary 1%11% 6% 26% 56% Please rate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements on how electronic resources have affected the use of print resources. Why is Print Still Necessary? 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 Historical/Archival record is available in print and often not in electronic Electronic versions not always as complete as the print version 11% 18% 15% Budget Restraints 9% Other 1% 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. 19

20 Most Libraries Retain Print Versions of Electronic Resources No 22% Yes 78% Does your library retain print versions of electronic resources? What is Your Policy Regarding Retaining Print Resources? No policy/case by case basis N=784 35% Retain print if there is no guarantee of an archived copy Retain print if heavily used item Retain volumes when required by license agreement Retain all print Cancel print if required by budget constraints Retain print if it is part of the core collection Retain if print is easier/more useful/preferred by users Retain volumes where electronic version is incomplete Retain volumes that are not available online (older volumes, etc.) Retain if electronic resource is not reliable Retain print if space is available Other 15% 14% 13% 11% 8% 7% 7% 7% 6% 6% 5% 12% Please tell us your policy regarding retaining print versions of electronic resources. 20

21 Key Findings: Use of Library and the Role of Print Patrons are increasingly demanding electronic resources. However, print still plays a major role in scholarly communication, and it is expected to continue to do so. Print is often preferred by users and it is easier to archive. Conclusions and Future Directions 21

22 Preliminary Conclusions Electronic Resources: Allow libraries to serve patrons more effectively Put a strain on some libraries Do not replace print resources Future Directions Interviews with Administrators, Publishers, IT personnel Faculty Survey Student Survey CIAO and Earthscape evaluations 22

23 Christina Norman, Ph.D. Research Director, EPIC Columbia University 510 Butler Library 535 West 114th Street, Mail Code 1103 New York, NY EPIC evaluation web site: 23