Electronic Reserves
at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign
Chemistry Library
Tina E. Chrzastowski
Chemistry Librarian
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
chrz@uiuc.edu
Definition
Electronic reserves represent a
new twist on an old service.
“Reserves” means holding a set group of
materials for use by a set group of people,
usually students in a class.
Simple e-reserves basically replicate
print reserves in an online format.
More complex sites link to e-books, 3-D
structures, audio, video, moving
molecules, or related web sites.
Class instructors decide the level of
complexity needed.
Print Reserve Problems
■ Library
hours are limited
■ Materials are frequently vandalized
■ Never enough copies
■ Staff time is spent on billing,overdue
fines, and recopying files.
E-Reserve Advantages
■ Materials
available 24/7
■ No theft or mutilation
■ Available from any computer,
anywhere
■ Minimal equipment needed
Hardware Needed
■ Scanner
(HP ScanJet 6300C)
■ Computer
■ Cables for connections
Software Needed
■ Scanning
program (HP DeskScan II)
■ Adobe Acrobat Distiller (saves EPS
files as PDF)
■ Adobe Acrobat Exchange (to edit
PDF files)
■ Microsoft FrontPage or Notepad
■ Web server software
Copyright Guidelines
Additional Security
■ Access
is limited to UIUC IP addresses.
■ Net ID authentication is required for offcampus access.
■ No direct links are made to articles by
author or title; access is by course
number only.
No library program is complete
without evaluation. A survey was
conducted in Chemistry 331 during
spring semester 2001.
All 146 students in the class
completed the web-based survey.
My thanks to Professor Jeff Moore.
“Does the ability to access reserve material
online change the amount of reserve material
you are willing to read?”
Amount read
Read more
Read the same amount
Read less
# Respondents
63
71
11
Percentage
43%
49%
8%
“What did you like best about electronic
reserves? Please check all that apply.”
Reason
No need to
go to library
Availability
throughout
semester
Printing
them out
Ease/speed
of access
No need to
wait at
Reserve
Desk
No need to
purchase
course
pack
Other
No
Response
Number of
Respondents
109
100
94
83
83
37
5
3
Percentage*
75%
68%
64%
57%
57%
25%
3%
2%
*Respondents could select multiple answers; total % is >100
“What did you like least about electronic
reserves? Please check all that apply
Reason
Download
time or
access
from home
Should be
linked
directly
from
library
homepage
More
material
needs to
be
available
online
Poor
image
resolution
Difficult
to
logon
System
down
time
Materials
not in a
clear
order
Other
**
No
response
Number of
Respondents
55
53
42
39
20
18
9
13
2
Percentage*
38%
36%
29%
27%
17%
12%
6%
9%
1%
*Respondents could select multiple answers; total % is >100
“After using electronic reserves, which do
you prefer, traditional or electronic
reserves?”
A ccess P reference
E lectronic
Traditional
N o P reference
D id N ot U se
E lectronic R eserves
# R esponde nts
101
14
23
7
P ercentage
69%
10%
16%
5%
E-reserve Use Statistics
Chemistry 331 Spring 2001
Date
1/13/01 – 1/19/01
1/20/01 –1/27/01
1/28/01 – 2/3/01
2/4/01 – 2/10/01
2/11/01 – 2/17/01
2/18/01 – 2/24/01
2/25/01 – 3/3/01
3/4/01 – 3/10/01
3/11/01 – 3/17/01
3/18/01 – 3/24/01
3/25/01 – 3/31/01
4/1/01 – 4/7/01
4/8/01 – 4/14/01
4/15/01 – 4/21/01
4/22/01 – 4/28/01
4/29/01 – 5/5/01
5/6/01 – 5/12/01
Chemistry 331 Electronic Reserves
693
1542
2273
3863
5628
1935
1610
2110
550
5001
1893
1304
1431
1787
3330
5478
1183
Total uses in spring semester = 41,611 “hits”
To Best Survey E-Reserve Users:
■ Work
with faculty to initiate feedback
within the classroom setting.
■ Give class credit for taking the survey.
■ Keep it simple and replicable.
■ Do it ONLINE.
Tips and Techniques
■ Listen
to your users.
Tips and Techniques
■ Listen
to your users.
■ Focus on dependability.
Tips and Techniques
■ Listen
to your users.
■ Focus on dependability.
■ Put all the rules up front.
Tips and Techniques
■ Listen
to your users.
■ Focus on dependability.
■ Put all the rules up front.
■ Prepare for environmental change.
Tips and Techniques
■ Listen
to your users.
■ Focus on dependability.
■ Put all the rules up front.
■ Prepare for environmental change.
■ Keep statistics.
Tips and Techniques
■ Listen
to your users.
■ Focus on dependability.
■ Put all the rules up front.
■ Prepare for environmental change.
■ Keep statistics.
■ Buy the best equipment you can afford.
Tips and Techniques
■ Listen
to your users.
■ Focus on dependability.
■ Put all the rules up front.
■ Prepare for environmental change.
■ Keep statistics.
■ Buy the best equipment you can afford.
■ Just Do It.
Tips and Techniques
■ Listen
to your users.
■ Focus on dependability.
■ Put all the rules up front.
■ Prepare for environmental change.
■ Keep statistics.
■ Buy the best equipment you can afford.
■ Just Do It.
■ Push the envelope.
What’s Next?
■ Mandatory
participation
■ Adding e-books and e-text
■ Keeping up with technology
■ Focus on remote users
This presentation has been submitted for
publication as:
Chrzastowski, Tina E., “Electronic
Reserves in the Science Library:Tips,
Techniques, and User perceptions.”
Science and Technology Libraries,
Volume 20, number 3/4, 2002.
Thank You!