a (surprisingly?) successful e-book story
DESCRIPTION
In 2011 NUI Maynooth Library commenced two streams of kindle usage, with a view to offering users more content options. Kindles were made available with core readings available, in cooperation with two academic departments – History and Business. Additionally a longer term project was initiated with a specific group of students from the Department of English, who would use the devices for the entirety of their readings for a whole semester. In contrast to many examples of this type, both projects have been enormously successful, with all devices in constant use by our students. In addition the projects have served to act as a ‘gateway’ device to both colleagues and students, many of whom would have been traditionally apprehensive about the ‘electronic book’. By starting with the Kindle we have been able to introduce even more content platforms, as well as encouraging colleagues and students to access our material over an even greater variety of devices.TRANSCRIPT
A (surprisingly?) successful eBook story
Hugh MurphySenior Librarian,
Collection Management ServicesNUI Maynooth
I will be talking about this...
I will not be talking about this
Nice story / Hard questions
• WHAT WE DID
• WHY WE DID IT
• HOW WE DID IT
• HOW IT WENT
• DID IT WORK?
• WHATS THE GAIN?
• WHATS THE COST?
• WHY DID IT WORK?!
WHAT WE DID
• Two programmes
• Two loan periods
• Two different aims
WHY WE DID IT
• Tipping point • Proof of concept? • Because we could / should?
It’s easy to get carried away..“By the turn of the century, paper will satisfy less than 5 percent of the total commerce in information.
Although education and entertainment have their own migratory paths and rates, the objective will be the same: paper is going to be replaced with electronic media”
(Kounta, J. (1992). Tomorrow’s libraries: More than a modular telephone jack, less than a complete revolution - Perspectives of a provocateur. Library Hi-Tech, 10(4), 39-50.
1992, p. 39)
…but haven't we reached tipping point?
WHY WE DID IT
• Tipping point • Proof of concept? • Because we could / should?
HOW WE DID IT (1)
LIBRARY WIDE
INVOLVEMENT
HOW WE DID IT (2)[NUTS AND BOLTS]
• 10 kindles for general, 10 for English• Library Staff usage• Free general books• List of titles submitted to Library• Incentivised in pilot – no fees• Catalogue records
HOW IT WENT
• c100 titles uploaded• Time consuming• Licensing restrictions• Security restrictions• Strong marketing campaign
DID IT WORK
• Validated our communication model• 90% ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’• 94% would borrow again• Repeat and increased business from
academics• Devices always on loan
WHAT’S THE GAIN?
• Give users what [we think] they want
• Increased traction with academic departments
• Staff views on technology opened up and challenged
• Library seen as innovative
WE HAVE KINDLES –
WE ARE COOL!!
WHAT’S THE COST?
• Time• Labour • Financial• Creates unsustainable
demand?
• Senior Librarian gets murdered in his sleep..
WHY DID IT WORK?
• Inherent merits of Kindle• Appropriate ‘intermediary’ step• Obvious benefits• Support of academic colleagues• Enthusiasm of staff• Just got lucky?