Rethinking the Reference Collection: Exploring Benchmarks and E-Book Availability

Abstract

Librarians in the Health Sciences Library System at the University of Pittsburgh explored the possibility of developing an electronic reference collection that would replace the print reference collection, thus providing access to these valuable materials to a widely dispersed user population. The librarians evaluated the print reference collection and standard collection development lists as potential benchmarks for the electronic collection, and they determined which books were available in electronic format. They decided that the low availability of electronic versions of titles in each benchmark group rendered the creation of an electronic reference collection using either benchmark impractical.

Student attitudes towards clinical teaching resources in complementary medicine: a focus group examination of Australian naturopathic medicine students

“…Discussion of the demise of printed reference materials may be moot, given that analysis has suggested that only one-third of reference materials, and only one-half of those viewed as 'essential purchase', are available in electronic format. 19 What this study adds is that discussions surrounding the transition to electronic resources should not be viewed as a demand-driven phenomenon, given the strong student desire (at least in the CM clinical training setting) for continued access to and evolution of print materials or even preference that electronic materials be 'print-like', or that electronic versions complement printed versions of textbooks rather than replace them.…”

“…However, recent exploration of this issue tends to have focused on practical considerations for librarians and course co-ordinators than it has on student preferences and attitudes in relation to electronic format. 19 Moreover, research on attitudes towards electronic materials has not kept pace with developments in electronic publishing, such as the introduction of computer tablets (and their apps), growing dominance of online book retailers and proliferation of open-access content. 20 Research on how students utilise electronic resources of medical libraries has found much higher utilisation of electronic versions of reference materials compared to printed versions.…”

“…The growing shift towards electronic learning materials in clinical training has implications for naturopaths, and for clinician training more generally. However, recent exploration of this issue tends to have focused on practical considerations for librarians and course co‐ordinators than it has on student preferences and attitudes in relation to electronic format . Moreover, research on attitudes towards electronic materials has not kept pace with developments in electronic publishing, such as the introduction of computer tablets (and their apps), growing dominance of online book retailers and proliferation of open‐access content …”

Conforming collections: assessing medical and allied health collections using Doody’s Core Titles

“…DCT “can assist collection development, aid collection assessment, serve as a recommended source for textbook selection, and provide an entry point into the literature of an unfamiliar discipline” [ 11 ]. It was used as a benchmark in developing an electronic reference collection, comparable to earlier studies that used DCT as a point of reference in collection assessment [ 12 ].…”

Comparing usage between dynamic and static e-reference collections

“…E-reference have been demonstrated to record higher levels of usage compared to their e-monograph counterparts, mostly because library patrons seem to feel more comfortable using them rather than their print equivalent (Husted and Czechowski, 2012;King, 2012;Lamothe, 2012;Reid et al, 2006). Corlett-Rivera and Hackman (2014) found that students and faculty at the University of Maryland heavily favored e-reference.…”