Personally,
I like print materials. Having a hardcover or cloth bound set of a reference
volumes looks and feels great. But what is the point if that 10-volume
reference set is going to be out of date in two years? Because of the
flexibility of ability to quickly update electronic resources (in comparison to
printed resources that really can’t be altered until the next edition comes
out), it seems like the better option for patrons in need of the most current
information available.
If you
think about searching through a stack of years and years of a journal or
magazine, looking for one particular article, even if you knew the exact issue
the article was in, compared with typing in the title or keyword(s) of the
article in a electronic version/database, there is really no comparison as to
which one is easier and more efficient. One of the essential qualities of a
successful service/tool/product/etc. is the ease of use. So, it the database is
quicker and easier for users, that is the one I would go with.
Additionally,
electronic resources that can be accessed outside of the physical library make
it more convenient for patrons to utilize. If you had the money to spend on
reference resources, it makes sense to invest in something that is going to get
the most use, and if patrons need to access a resource and don’t necessarily
have to go into the library to use it, then it will probably get more use. Of
course, this is assuming that the patrons are aware of the benefits and
availability of such a resource.
So, when it
comes down to it, I would spend 85-90% on electronic resources due to the
flexibility and accessibility, and the rest on printed resources.
I agree that although print resource are indeed useful, electronic are a lot more convenient to most people. Any resource that can be accessed without having to go to an actual library sounds great to me.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to disagree with you on that. I also enjoy working with print sources. During my first few years of University I would camp out at the library to do research and would spread out as many as two dozen sources on a table while I took notes and jotted citations. But as the research became more extensive and my schedule prevented me from allocated an unbroken day to research, it was much easier to access the Research database from home. If needed, I could even print out my own copies of the articles. People have busy lives and technology simplifies all that.
ReplyDeleteI am curious as to why so many people who are taking a library science course don't like going to the library and would do anything to keep from going to one. Anyway I think that one of the obvious benefits of this course is that we are sharing our views and being introduced to a lot of different resources. One of the things that needs to be considered when purchasing a online resource is the cost and it keeps going up every year. In a public library it sometimes isn't practical to subscribe to an online database no matter how great it seems to be if only a handful of patrons are going to use it.I would say most of the patrons who come to our reference department for help have already looked on line and want us to help them find something beyond a simple online resource
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DeleteI agree completely about investing more of the money into electronic resources. These resources are easier to keep up to date and give patrons the ease of access from home and outside the library. When purchasing print resources you always face the fact that they will eventually become outdated and patrons won't even be able to use them.
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