WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF
AUDIO RESERVES IN
LIBRARIES?
Joe Clark
Kent State University
MLA Midwest Chapter Meeting
October 16, 2015
Introduction
From: http://lifehackery.com/2008/09/29/entertainment-2/, accessed 10/12/15.
From: https://downdetector.com/status/itunes/map/, accessed 10/12/15.
Survey Administration
• IRB approved
• Given last week of classes during spring 2014
From: http://affluenceresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/luxury_survey.jpg,
10/13/15.
Participating Classes
• Classes for non-music majors
• The Understanding of Music (MUS 22111: 3 sections, 2 instructors),
46 students
• Survey of Rock Music History (MUS 22131), 9 students
• Roots of Rock (MUS 42101), 9 students
• Music as a World Phenomenon (MUS 22111), 11 students
• Class with both music and non-music majors
• Jazz History (MUS 42161), 6 students
•
•
•
•
•
Classes for music majors
Music Theory 1750-1900 (MUS 21122), 17 students
Music History 1750-1900 (MUS 32212), 19 students
Symphonic Literature (MUS 42221/52221), 4 students
Song Literature (MUS 42251/52251), 2 students
Reserve Awareness & Book CDs
• 65 of 83 respondents in classes with reserves knew about
them (78%)
• Only 8 of the 34 (24%) who knew of an accompanying CD
set purchased it
Never
2-3 Times/Semester
2/3 Times/Month
Once a Week
2-3 Times/Week
Daily
0%
5%
10%
15%
Non-music (n=70)
20%
25%
Music (n=44)
30%
35%
40%
45%
iTunes (from “other”)
Classical Music Library
Google Play
Rdio
Grooveshark
Naxos Music Library
Spotify
Rhapsody
Pandora
Youtube
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Study for Class Assignments
50%
60%
For Personal Listening
70%
80%
90%
100%
Naxos ML
Spotify
Rhapsody
Pandora
YouTube
0
10
20
30
40
Academic
50
Personal
60
70
80
90
100
Other
CDs borrowed
CDs purchased
Naxos Mobile App
Online Course Reserves
Purchased MP3s
Streaming Lib. DBs
Free Streaming Services
Youtube
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Mean % of total listening sources
50%
60%
70%
% of students using
80%
90%
Other
CDs borrowed
CDs purchased
Naxos Mobile App
Online Course Reserves
Purchased MP3s
Streaming Lib. DBs
Free Streaming Services
Youtube
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
% of use by Non-music Majors
50%
60%
70%
% of use by Music Majors
80%
90%
100%
Other
Youtube
Free Streaming Services
Purchased MP3s
Streaming Lib. DBs
Naxos Mobile App
Online Course Reserves
CDs borrowed
CDs purchased
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
% of non-music majors
50%
60%
70%
% of music majors
80%
90%
100%
The Few, the Proud…
Only 17% (20 of 119) indicated a preference for physical
CDs for studying. Top reasons included:
• Prefer the sound quality of CDs to streaming: n=13 of 20,
65%
• Other: n=8 of 20, 40%. Listed reasons:
• “it came with text,”
• “the car can’t stream,”
• “CDs are more fun,”
• “easy to keep track of,”
• “listen in car and liner notes,”
• “online library,” and
• “to open in iTunes.”
“Do you prefer listening on a computer over a smartphone
or tablet?”
• One third (n=40, 33%) signaled a preference for a
smartphone or tablet.
• The remaining respondents (65%, n=78) indicated
listening on a computer. Reasons listed for favoring a
computer over a tablet or smartphone included:
Why Computer over Mobile Device?
• better sound, better sound and eq.
• computers are easier, convenience
• difficult on small device, easier to navigate
• easier to study
• multitask
• multitask with multiple tabs
• no CDs for tablet
• no data charges
• no free Spotify app
• no risk of losing physical item
• no smartphone/tablet
• only own computer
Less, 3%
About the same,
31%
More, 66%
Considerations/Preferences
Conclusions & Initiatives
• Students appear more interested in access over
•
•
•
•
•
ownership
Differences between music and non-music majors
Comfort and convenience were major factors in the
choice of audio sources
Reserves are happening without the library/librarian
Librarians are more proactive, with appearances in
classes that have audio requirements
Exploring the standardization of listening assignments
across all non-music major core classes based on library
streaming database tracks
Publication of this Material
• Clark, Joe C. and Amanda L. Evans. “Are Audio Reserves
Still Relevant in Libraries.” Forthcoming in the Journal of
Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic
Reserve.
Thank you!
Questions & Discussion?
jclark88@kent.edu