Students, Vendor Platforms, and E-textbooks: Using E-books as E-textbooks
- Conference
- Location
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Atlanta, Georgia
- Publication Date
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June 23, 2013
- Start Date
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June 23, 2013
- End Date
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June 26, 2013
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Engineering Libraries
- Page Count
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27
- Page Numbers
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23.1109.1 - 23.1109.27
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--22494
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/22494
- Download Count
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625
Paper Authors
Sara M. Samuel
University of Michigan
orcid.org/0000-0001-6808-2514
Sara M. Samuel is an engineering librarian at the University of Michigan where she is a liaison to the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences Department, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, and the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department.
Natsuko Hayashi Nicholls University of Michigan
Dr. Natsuko Hayashi Nicholls is a CLIR/DLF Data Curation fellow, associate librarian, and a full-time researcher affiliated with the Clark Library for Maps, Government Information and Data Services. Since the summer of 2012, Natsuko has been involved in developing and implementing library data services.
After joining the University of Michigan Library in 2009, the majority of her time and effort has been dedicated to textbook initiatives at the University of Michigan Library. Her research orientation and knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative methodological techniques has enabled her to conduct several textbook-related studies that examine and assess a wide range of potential roles the Library can play in increasing textbook affordability for the Michigan scholarly community.
Natsuko most recently served as a project manager for the campus-wide eTextbook Initiative led by the University Library.
Leena N Lalwani
University of Michigan
orcid.org/0000-0003-1881-2181
Leena Lalwani is the coordinator for the Arts and Engineering Collection at the Art, Architecture and Engineering Library (AAEL) at the University of Michigan. She is also the liaison Librarian for Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Entrepreneurship. In addition, she is the patent specialist for her library. Prior to joining University of Michigan, Leena has worked as Librarian at Gelman Sciences and American Tobacco Company. Leena has a M.L.S. degree from Catholic University of America and M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Mumbai.
David S. Carter University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
David S. Carter is an engineering librarian for the departments of electrical engineering and computer science; and the video game archivist at the University of Michigan.
Paul F. Grochowski
University of Michigan
orcid.org/0000-0002-9075-8821
Paul Grochowski is an associate librarian at the University of Michigan's Art, Architecture & Engineering Library. He is liaison to the Aerospace Engineering, IOE, Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences departments.
Abstract
Work in Progress: E-Textbooks for Engineering CoursesAbstract:Considering the cost of textbooks, our library has been working to make copies oftextbooks available for all engineering courses. We purchase electronic copies oftextbooks when they are available for institutional access. In fall of 2011 we provided 41e-textbooks for 36 courses, or approximately 8% of all engineering courses, with anaggregate enrollment of 2072 students. In fall of 2012, we are providing 73 e-textbooksfor 62 courses, or approximately 15% of all engineering courses.To learn about students’ experiences in using the e-textbooks, in fall 2011 we sent a survey to the2072 students. We had 299 usable responses, for a 15% response rate. Results of the surveyhelped us compare various e-textbook formats on nine platforms. Findings from the surveyguided changes to some of our procedures for providing and announcing e-textbooks in 2012.We will continue our study this fall with a second survey.We provide access to books on various platforms including MyiLibrary, ebrary, EBL, Knovel,ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Wiley, and Safari. Our survey asks students to rate usability inregard to ease of use, ease of access, reading, printing, sharing, taking notes, searching, andothers, and asks them to rate overall satisfaction.In our 2011 survey, 44% of survey respondents reported having used the e-textbooks. Of thosewho had used the e-textbooks, 67% expressed overall satisfaction with them.This paper discusses our survey findings for the two years of the survey by focusing on studentresponses to the usability questions and student responses to open questions. We also presentdata for individual e-book vendors in order to draw some comparisons in usability between thedifferent vendors.
Samuel, S. M., & Nicholls, N. H., & Lalwani, L. N., & Carter, D. S., & Grochowski, P. F. (2013, June), Students, Vendor Platforms, and E-textbooks: Using E-books as E-textbooks Paper presented at 2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia. 10.18260/1-2--22494
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