Archives des mots-clés : sweden

E-books in academic libraries: results of a survey carried out in Sweden and Lithuania

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Authors :  Elena Maceviciute, Tom D. Wilson, Arūnas Gudinavičius, Andrius Šuminas

Introduction

This paper reports on a study of e-books issues in academic libraries in two European countries representative of small language markets – Sweden and Lithuania.

Method

Questionnaire surveys, using the same instrument, were carried out in Swedish and Lithuanian academic libraries.

Analysis

Quantitative analysis was performed using the descriptive statistics capability of SurveyMonkey.

Results

The survey’s results reveal some interesting similarities and differences in the two countries. Business models for e-book acquisition in both countries show similarities – the most popular additional model is purchase for perpetual ownership.

One significant difference is that some of the Lithuanian academic librarians appear to have less direct knowledge of e-book acquisition, relying upon the Lithuanian Research Library Consortium to effect licence agreements with publishers and aggregators.

Another significant difference is that academic libraries in Lithuania have a higher degree of access to e-books in the national language than is the case in Sweden.

Conclusion

The findings show that the factors driving adoption of e-books, is composed of somewhat different elements in the two countries. Swedish librarians regard the need to keep up with technology and access and availability as the two main forces driving adoption of e-books in academic libraries.

Lithuanian librarians see economics as the main factor, together with technology and demand from students.

URL : http://www.informationr.net/ir/22-3/paper762.html

 

 

Institutional repositories as infrastructures for long-term preservation

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Authors : Helena Francke, Jonas Gamalielsson, Björn Lundell

Introduction

The study describes the conditions for long-term preservation of the content of the institutional repositories of Swedish higher education institutions based on an investigation of how deposited files are managed with regards to file format and how representatives of the repositories describe the functions of the repositories.

Method

The findings are based on answers to a questionnaire completed by thirty-four institutional repository representatives (97% response rate).

Analysis

Questionnaire answers were analysed through descriptive statistics and qualitative coding. The concept of information infrastructures was used to analytically discuss repository work.

Results

Visibility and access to content were considered to be the most important functions of the repositories, but long-term preservation was also considered important for publications and student theses.

Whereas a majority of repositories had some form of guidelines for which file formats were accepted, very few considered whether or not file formats constitute open standards. This can have consequences for the long-term sustainability and access of the content deposited in the repositories.

Conclusion

The study contributes to the discussion about the sustainability of research publications and data in the repositories by pointing to the potential difficulties involved for long-term preservation and access when there is little focus on and awareness of open file formats.

URL : http://www.informationr.net/ir/22-2/paper757.html

Publishers’ responses to the e-book phenomenon: survey results from three ‘small language’ markets

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Authors : T.D. Wilson, Elena Maceviciute

Introduction

This paper reports on a study of publishers’ attitudes towards e-books in the context of the global situation of e-book publishing. Comparative data are drawn from a replication of a survey carried out in Sweden, in Lithuania and in Croatia.

Method

A self-completed questionnaire survey was undertaken, offering respondents the choice of a printed questionnaire or a response through an online SurveyMonkey alternative.

Analysis

Quantitative analysis was performed using the descriptive statistics capability of SurveyMonkey.

Results

The three country survey reveals a number of similar responses from publishers on several key issues, i.e., self-publishing, the future role of bookshops, and relationships with public libraries. The results also reveal that publishers have a certain ambivalence on these issues

Conclusion

In ‘small language’ markets, the take-up of e-books represents a much smaller proportion of total sales than in the English language market. Responses to questions on publishers’ relationships with authors, booksellers and libraries show a high degree of unanimity of opinion.

URL : http://www.informationr.net/ir/21-4/paper725.html