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E-book readers in a mobile-friendly library

This project aims to explore student working practices with e-book readers to inform the development of library services. The project also investigates the ease of use and available content on two different e-readers. Findings show limitations in functionality and difficulties in accessing and formatting study content. The project suggests potential for libraries to loan pre-loaded e-book readers.

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E-book readers in a mobile-friendly library

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  1. E-book readers in a mobile-friendly library Alison Brock

  2. Contents • About the project • Project outcomes • Wider issues and discussion

  3. Aims of project Main aim: • To explore student working practice of using e-book readers, to inform development of library services. Also: • To collect information about the ease of use of two different e-readers. • To investigate e-reader content available to students.

  4. Methodology • 6 participants per university (4 Sony and 2 iPod Touch) • Given an e-book reader each to use for 3 months (August – October 2009) • Pre-pilot survey • Start-up workshops • Ning Forum – for blogging, news, help • Mid-project get together • End of project survey • End of project interviews

  5. OU Participants Student A: Level 1 Welsh beginners (L196) Student B: Level 2 Child development (ED209) Student C: Level 3 History of Technology (AT308) Student D: Masters level business (B822) Student E: Masters level education (H812) Student F: PhD Geography

  6. Cranfield Participants • Student G: Eng student Cranfield Health • Student H: PhD in Aerospace and Aeronautics • Student I: PhD in Water Science • Student J: PhD in Nanotechnology • Student K: Exec MBA School of Management • Participant L: Course Director

  7. The Sony Reader(PRS-505)

  8. The Apple iPod Touch(8GB)

  9. Thoughts on the Sony Strengths • Good for sequential, narrative reading • Lightweight, portable • Easy on the eyes (uses e-ink) Weaknesses • Slowness of navigation – hierarchical • A bit clicky and clunky • Only does one thing

  10. Thoughts on the iPod Strengths • Nice gadget, does other things as well • Very portable – literally pocket sized • Page turning with touch screen very easy • Coloured pages make reading easier Weaknesses • Tricky to get appropriate content onto it • Screen size just a bit too small • Reliant on Wifi

  11. Pre-pilot survey results • Before pilot less than half the participants had used e-books • Those who had viewed them on a laptop or PC/Mac (no experience of e-book readers) • Most were keen to use non-fiction books • Of those who had not used e-books reasons given were: • Lack of knowledge • They could be tricky/complicated • Prefer physical books • New technology • They seem expensive • In using them they hoped it would save paper, be more portable, help them to find things quickly using search facilities.

  12. Post-pilot survey results • Most participants used the reader for more than one purpose e.g. research, listening to music, audio books, reading fiction as well as games • They found switching on and initial use easy, but getting content onto the devices was tricky and their use for study purposes tricky or difficult. • They were generally lukewarm about whether they would borrow a device from the library • Most would not buy the model they had tested even if they would consider buying a e-book reader • Main barriers for use were formatting issues, navigation, can’t annotate or interact with text, tiring to use.

  13. OU Findings • Expectations pre-pilot: “all the course materials in one place, easy to carry around” “slip it in your pocket and have a few dozen books with me” “enable me to study on the move a bit more” “seeing how the OU could deliver things in different ways”

  14. OU Findings • Most participants found the devices were limited by their functionality and didn’t fit with current study practices • Accessing and downloading appropriate study content on to the devices was difficult even for the more tech-savvy participants • Formatting content once on the devices caused problems (e.g. PDFs) and especially diagrams or images • Library subscribed e-book content is only licensed for PC use not for downloading onto e-book readers • Difficult to locate e-book content to use as it is available in many different places

  15. OU Findings • When using mostly text based material was possible to see the benefits of the portability and ease of navigation • Students reported that they didn’t have to print out so much, and could feel they were working away from the computer a lot more • With the iPod Touch you could also surf the net and use the course website • Once the materials had been downloaded for use on the devices they were relatively easy to use unless there were formatting issues • Some students would prefer to use a laptop rather than a dedicated e-book reader, and the iPod Touch was generally more popular than the Sony as it could do more than simply act as a reader

  16. Project outcomes • Current e-book readers are designed for reading novels rather than academic texts • The functionality needs to improve significantly before they are of use to students • The ways people study mean these devices will play just a part in overall study patterns • Potential for libraries to loan out pre-loaded readers (but note issues being raised in the USA re. the Kindle) • Potential role for libraries in facilitating and guiding students to find e-book content • Potential for library services to negotiate better licence agreements for commercial e-book content

  17. Project outcomes • Student wish list post-pilot • Ideal e-book reader would have: • Screen between A5 and A4 size • Touch screen (possibly with a stylus) • Ability to highlight/make notes and other interactivity • Internet access • Ability to quickly transfer content direct to the device • Lower retail price • OU could provide: • E-book readers with course materials and readings pre-loaded • Help with finding appropriate e-book content • Better system for transferring existing course materials onto devices • OU course materials in ePub format (free open e-book standard) as this is most widely used format

  18. Is 2010 the year of the e-book? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/08/ces-ebook-ereader) • Amazon Kindle launched in Europe • Apple iPad launched late January 2010 • Sales of Kindles and Sony e-readers booming in the USA (estimated 500,000 Kindles sold worldwide in 2009, similar numbers for Sony) • Sony linking their e-book store with public libraries in the USA to enable direct download to their e-reader from a local library via their library card number (using Overdrive http://www.overdrive.com/)

  19. Similar e-reader projects • Penn State University Library http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/lls/sony_reader.html • Testing the Sony PRS-505 • North West Missouri State University http://www.nwmissouri.edu/services/eTextbooks/index.htm • Princeton University http://www.princeton.edu/ereaderpilot/eReaderFinalReportShort.pdf • Testing the Amazon Kindle DX • Darden School of Business, University of Virginia http://www.darden.virginia.edu/html/standard.aspx?menu_id=72&styleid=2&id=19304 • Testing the Amazon Kindle DX

  20. Big issues • Publishers and libraries still working on how e-textbooks can be made available • JISC national e-books observatory project (http://www.jiscebooksproject.org/) • JISC e-textbooks business models study • Once this has been explored mobile e-readers may come into the equation • Manufacturers and content providers for e-readers mainly base use on the one-reader one-book model, for individuals to use not libraries • Technology for e-readers still being developed, no standards yet, not being user tested for student use but for leisure reading

  21. Wider context and discussion • Questions for you: • Have you personally used/do you own an e-book reader? • Does your library/company have any? • How many e-books do you subscribe to? • If library books, are they available for students to view on e-book readers? • Does your university provide any course materials in e-book format? • Other questions?

  22. Photo credits • eBook Reader by goXunuReviews http://www.flickr.com/photos/43602175@N06/4070018828 • By theunquietlibrary http://www.flickr.com/photos/theunquietlibrary/4007784305/in/set-72157622654337930/ • Final Day by Styler http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellipse/9084106/

  23. Thanks to… • Liz Mallett, Open University Library and Darran Rowe, Cranfield University who carried out the original project. You can view a video seminar on the JISC national e-books observatory project and more on this study at: http://stadium.open.ac.uk/stadia/preview.php?whichevent=1454&s=31

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