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Print Books vs. Electronic Books in the Academic
Library Environment
Thank you for your time and assistance in completing this questionnaire. Our goal
is to determine the effects that e-books are having in the academic library
environment and whether they are being accepted.
If you have any questions about this research, please contact Marybeth Moretti at
mfm64@drexel.edu.
This questionnaire should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.
Before you begin the questionnaire:
• We will blind your responses. Your name will not be linked to any data.
• In exchange for fully completing the survey, you will receive our complete survey findings.
• After you submit your answers, we may contact you with any necessary follow-up questions.
• By providing your answers, you are giving the research team permission to use the data for the intended research
only. Your contact information will not be shared with any third parties.
This survey is intended for all those who utilize the Drexel Univ Hagerty Library, located at 33rd and Market Streets,
Philadelphia, PA 19104 or online at http://library.drexel.edu/.
E-Book Definition
• An electronic book (also e-book, ebook, digital book) is a
text and image-based publication in digital form produced
on, published by, and readable on computers or other
digital devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional
printed book, e-books can also be born digital. The Oxford
Dictionary of English defines the e-book as "an electronic
version of a printed book,” but e-books can and do exist
without any printed equivalent. E-books are usually read on
dedicated hardware devices known as e-Readers or e-book
devices. Personal computers and some cell phones can also
be used to read e-books.
(Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-book)
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Contact Information
Name
Phone
Email
@drexel.edu
* We may contact you with any necessary follow-up questions to ensure that we do not misrepresent your answers.
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Additional Information
Sex
Male
Female
Age
Under 21
46-55
22-25
56-64
26-35
64+
36-45
Additional Information (cont’d)
School Name
Drexel University
Title
Library Staff
Undergraduate Student
Faculty
Graduate Student
Other University Staff
Former Student/Graduate
What is your major area of concentration?
Arts and Humanities
Law
Business
Mathematics and Physical Sciences
Life Sciences
Engineering
Other (specify)
Are you currently enrolled in the iSchool?
Yes
No
If no, have you ever taken an online course?
Yes
No
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Current e-Book Usage
Q1
Do you currently use e-books?
Yes
Q2
No
If you answered No, why not?
If you answered Yes, answer the following:
Q3
Q4
What is your preferred reading format? (Check all that apply)
E-Reader
Mobile Device
Computer Screen
Print and Read on Paper
What is your method of obtaining e-books? (Check all that apply)
From Librarian
Library Collection
Online From Library Web Site
Online e-Book Store (Amazon, for example)
Other (specify)
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Current e-Book Usage (cont’d)
Q5
What type of e-book do you prefer to read? (Check all that apply)
Fiction
Textbook
Non-Fiction
Research Material
I do not prefer e-books
Reference Material
Other (specify)
Q6
What digital format do you prefer to read? (Check all that apply)
PDF
ePub
HTML
Don’t Know
Other (specify)
Q7
How often do you use e-books?
Frequently
Q8
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Rarely
Never
How often do you use printed material?
Frequently
Sometimes
Advantages & Disadvantages of e-Books
Would you use a pre-loaded eReading device?
Q9
Yes
Q10
Q11
Q12
Q13
Q14
Q15
Provide your opinion regarding the following -book characteristics
I do not like e-books because they are difficult to read on a screen
Using e-books are environmentally friendly
Using e-books are convenient
Electronic book usage will be more prevalent in two (2) years
Electronic books are not convenient for note taking
Agree
Disagree
Agree
Disagree
Agree
Disagree
Agree
Disagree
Agree
Disagree
Would you purchase a textbook in electronic format if it was just 10% cheaper?
Yes
Q16
No
No
If No, when would you purchase an electronic textbook? (Check all that apply)
More than 10% discount
Option to rent at greatly reduced price
Never
Other (specify)
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Your Library and e-Books
Q17
Do you currently download e-books from Drexel’s Hagerty Library?
Yes
Q18
No
If you answered No, why not?
If you answered Yes, respond to the following:
Q19
What percentage do you think your library currently houses in e-book content?
1-10%
Q20
26-50%
Over 50%
Don’t Know
Rate your overall experience with Hagerty Library’s e-book selection.
Excellent
Q21
11-25%
Good
Neutral
Fair
Poor
N/A
Rate your overall experience with Hagerty Library’s use of technology.
Excellent
Good
Neutral
Fair
Poor
N/A
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Your Library and e-Book s (cont’d)
Q22
Have you ever experienced technical difficulties downloading e-books from
Drexel’s Hagerty Library?
Yes
Q23
Rate your overall experience with the Library’s technical assistance.
Excellent
Q24
Neutral
Fair
Poor
N/A
No
How important do you think it is for your academic library to make e-books available?
Essential
Q26
Good
Were you already aware that library staff and technical assistance could be accessed
via phone, email, chat, and in person?
Yes
Q25
No
Important
Somewhat
Important
Not
Important
Irrelevant
No Opinion
The e-books offered are not always compatible with my device.
Agree
Disagree
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The Future of e-Books
Q27
Do you currently use…? (Check all that apply)
MP3 Player
Tablet
Other Gaming Device
Digital Camera
PC/laptop
GPS
Wii
Smartphone
Other (specify)
Q28
Q29
What obstacles keep you from using e-books?
If you have comments regarding the use of e-books in an academic library, please
provide them here.
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The Future of e-Books (cont’d)
Q30
In the future, do you think eReaders will improve reading enough to make e-books
more prevalent than printed material?
Yes
Q31
No
What eReader functions would make you use the technology more?
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THANK YOU
for completing this questionnaire!
Your time is greatly appreciated.
You will receive the results via email in
4-6 weeks.
If the “Thank You” screen appeared, you have successfully completed the online
version of the questionnaire. If completing the printed version, please return via
email to Marybeth Moretti @ mfm64@drexel.edu.
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References
Rowlands, I., Nicholas, D., Jamali, H. R. and Huntington, P. (10 Aug 2007). What do
faculty and students really think about e-books? Aslib Proceedings New
Information Perspectives, Vol 59, No. 6, 2007, pp. 489-511.
(See file: Faculty_Student_Opinion_eBooks.pdf)
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