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This study examines faculty opinions on the use and importance of electronic resources in academic research. It highlights the value placed on electronic databases, the expected decrease in library access, and the growing importance of electronic archiving. The findings emphasize the need for improved tools and resources to facilitate efficient research.
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What Do Faculty Think of Electronic Resources?Findings from the 2003 Academic Research Resources Study CNI Task Force Meeting Alexandria, Virginia April 16, 2004 Kevin Guthrie Roger C. Schonfeld Ithaka
The Intended “Audience” • Faculty only – This was not a survey of graduate students or undergraduate students. • US only – We were unable to include faculty from other countries. • Colleges and universities that grant the Bachelor’s Degree or higher – We did not include community colleges.
The Recipients • 44,060 professors at U.S. colleges and universities were selected at random and sent a questionnaire. • Surveys were mailed on September 29, 2003, with covering letter. • Cut-off date November 12, 2003. • Total of 7,403 completed surveys received • Overall response rate of 16.8%
Interpretation of the Findings • The technological environment is changing rapidly. We need to collect and analyze data on current and emerging trends very rapidly. • We have hired a firm that does business market research. The technique it uses involves asking similar questions in multiple ways, allowing for a sort of “triangulation” of current views. By comparing the answers to similar questions, evidence of consistency emerges that enhances the confidence we have in findings even at low response rates. • Although we recognize that the findings presented here are not statistically significant by academic standards, the results we show are broadly consistent across multiple questions. We believe they have considerable value as inputs into strategic planning for librarians, information technologists, and others interested in scholarly communications.
For the Vast Majority, Electronic Databases are Already Invaluable • Not well: 5% • Somewhat: 22% • Very Well: 73% How well does the following statement describe your point of view? “Electronic research resources, such as computer databases of academic journals, are an invaluable research tool.”
Faculty Value Three Library Functions Highly – by discipline “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” Percent rating each function as ‘very important’
But They Expect Libraries to Become Less Important in these Areas Today 5 Years from Today • Gateway: 65% 56% • Archive: 77% 68% • Buyer: 80% 76% “Thinking about 5 years from now, how important will it be that your library provides each function?”
Electronic Archiving is a Very Important Concern How well does the following statement describe your point of view? “With more and more journals becoming available electronically, it is crucial that libraries, publishers, or electronic databases archive, catalog, and protect these electronic journals.”
Conclusions • Electronic resources are important to faculty. • Humanists depend more on the library for access than social scientists. • Library access role is expected to diminish. • Electronic archiving is important to all. Closing Question for Further Reflection: Are the majority of library resources going toward disciplines that “value” the library’s access role the least?
Finding articles locally is becoming more difficult “A substantial problem for me is that journal articles that I need are sometimes not available at my university or in my locale and I have to get them from another source”
Faculty want tools to help them find information “The process of locating information in academic journal literature is tedious and often hit-or-miss, and the act of physically searching through hard-copy collections is much too time-consuming and onerous. I would welcome access to new tools that improve my ability to locate and access journal literature.”
And dependence on them is expected to increase “I will become increasingly dependent on electronic research resources in the future.”
Electronic resources have gained in importance “Electronic research resources are invaluable research tools”
Findings • Use of electronic resources, and dependence on them, has increased since 2000. • Notwithstanding the major progress in providing access electronically that has been achieved in the past three years, more faculty report having trouble finding the articles they need. • Faculty want help, including new tools and resources, to make their research more effective and efficient.
Starting Point for Research Below are four possible starting points for academic research. Typically, when you are conducting academic research, which of these four starting points do you use to begin locating information for your research? • The library building • A general-purpose search engine on the Internet or World Wide Web, such as Yahoo or Google • Your online library catalog • A specific electronic research resource or computer database
Different expectations for future dependence on e-resources “I will become increasingly dependent on electronic research resources in the future.”
Cancellation of print versions would be tolerated differently “If my library cancelled the current issues of a print version of a journal but continued to make them available electronically, that would be fine with me.”
Preference for using the computer for research “I often find using the library to be difficult and time-consuming - I’d much rather get the information I need from a computer in my office or home.”
Replacement of hardcopies… “Assuming that electronic collections of journals are proven to work well and are readily accessible, I would be happy to see hard-copy collections discarded and replaced entirely by electronic collections.” (Well or Very Well)
Importance of Maintaining Hard Copies “Regardless of How Reliable and Safe Electronic Collections of Journals May Be, It Will Always Be Crucial for Some Libraries to Maintain Hard-Copy Collections of Journals.”
Individual disciplines whose faculty most use CMSes “Blackboard and WebCT are two examples of commercial course management programs, which some academic institutions license for a fee, that offer an array of web-based tools and services that help you manage the courses that you teach. To what extent would you say that you use these commercial course management programs?” Percent responding sometimes or frequently.
Value of Library Functions “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” • The library is a starting point or “gateway” for locating information for my research. • The library pays for resources I need, from academic journals to books to electronic databases. • The library is a repository of resources – in other words, it archives, preserves, and keeps track of resources.
The Library Is Valued Differently, by Discipline Grouping “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” Percent rating each function as ‘very important’
Humanists “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” Percent rating each function as ‘very important’
Mathematicians “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” Percent rating each function as ‘very important’
Economists “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” Percent rating each function as ‘very important’
Gateway “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” Percent rating each function as ‘very important’
Archive “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” Percent rating each function as ‘very important’
Buyer “How important is it to you that your library provides each of the following functions?” Percent rating each function as ‘very important’
The Importance of Electronic Archiving “With more and more journals becoming available electronically, it is crucial that libraries, publishers, or electronic databases archive, catalog, and protect these electronic journals.”
Findings • Notable disciplinary variations exist, with humanities faculty reporting different attitudes and preferences from other faculty. • Biological scientists are more concerned than might be expected that paper backfiles be retained, perhaps largely because of their dependence on images. How will their needs be met in the new environment? • The data seems to suggest an increasing reliance on and enthusiasm for e-resources in fields like economics and business/finance. Studying changes in the information needs and research behavior of economists in the past three years might offer predictive insights for other fields that expect e-resources to become more important in the future. • These disciplinary comparisons may suggest implications for how libraries should serve faculty on their campuses.
Faculty Are Not Yet Ready to Part with Paper Backfiles “Assuming that electronic collections of journals are proven to work well and are readily accessible, I would be happy to see hard-copy collections discarded and replaced entirely by electronic collections.”
Archiving: “Preserving and protecting access to a collection of scholarly literature in perpetuity, without regard for how frequently or infrequently these materials are being read.”
…Across Institutional Sizes Note: Current Market Only
…And Across Disciplines: Disciplines in Which Less than 80% Rate It Very Important • Math / Statistics : 78% • Political Science: 78% • Sociology: 76% • Theater / Drama : 76% • Law : 75% • Business / Finance : 74% • Economics : 73%
Electronic Archiving Is Growing in Importance: I “With more and more journals becoming available electronically, it is crucial that libraries, publishers, or electronic databases archive, catalog, and protect these electronic journals.”
Electronic Archiving Is Growing in Importance: II Importance of Long-Term Preservation of Electronic Journals
…Leading Most to Want Both Versions Archived Version Of Journal That Must Be Archived
More Than Half Of Faculty Feel That Print Versions Of Current Issues Are Expendable “If my library cancelled the current issues of a print version of a journal but continued to make them available electronically, that would be fine with me.”
Uncertainty about Current Preservation Practices Satisfaction With The Way Electronic Journals Are Being Preserved For The Long Term
So, E-Archiving Doesn’t Drive Publishing Choices “How important is the archiving of electronic versions of journals in determining where you publish your articles?”
Findings • Archiving is strongly supported, in principle, by all faculty, and electronic archiving is a priority that is growing in importance. • A majority of faculty are prepared for the cancellation of print current issues, yet a majority also would prefer to see both the print and electronic versions archived – two findings that are incompatible. • Current practices for electronic archiving are poorly understood by faculty and do not drive publication choices. Electronic archiving is complicated and the problem is not well-defined in their minds.
