Abstract
When libraries make the decision to transition from print to electronic books, it is often a zero-sum game; if the library is to license the electronic version of a title, it tends not to buy it in print. This study examines print purchase and usage patterns after a large e-book acquisition by the University of Toronto Libraries, when subject selectors had the option to continue to purchase the titles in print. Data on print purchasing patterns, print title circulation, and electronic book use was examined both at the aggregate and the subject level. The study adds evidence to the growing body of literature on the transition from print to e-books in academic libraries.
Understanding and Measuring E-Book Packages: Print Purchasing Patterns and Book Usage
When libraries make the decision to transition from print to electronic books, it is often a zero-sum game; if the library is to license the electronic version of a title, it tends not to buy it in print. This study examines print purchase and usage patterns after a large e-book acquisition by the University of Toronto Libraries, when subject selectors had the option to continue to purchase the titles in print. Data on print purchasing patterns, print title circulation, and electronic book use was examined both at the aggregate and the subject level. The study adds evidence to the growing body of literature on the transition from print to e-books in academic libraries.