From the SelectedWorks of Tracy Bruce
August, 2013
Ereader trial 2010-2011 report Tracy Bruce
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/tracy_bruce/7/
Ereader Trial 2010/2011 Report Tracy Bruce Liaison Librarian (Arts & Social Sciences, Education) August 2013
Background Southern Cross University Library held a trial to lend ereaders at each campus beginning November 2010. An ethics application was approved in November 2010, and the literature review from that application was published in November 2010 in the Australian Library Journal. One Kobo and one Kindle device were purchased for each of the three campus Libraries. The Kindle model was the now-discontinued Kindle 2 and the Kobo was the now-discontinued Kobo eReader. Both devices were the non-touchscreen versions with electronic ink, and with navigation by buttons. A survey invitation was given to all borrowers of the devices between November 2010 and April 2011. Support material for borrowers included the eReader LibGuide at http://libguides.scu.edu.au/ereader and a printed SCU Library Guide sheet in the box. During the trial period borrowing of the devices was limited to staff and students of SCU, and not students of our partner institutions TAFE and the Senior School at Coffs Harbour Education Campus. Survey invitations were issued to the 58 users over the trial period, and 45 completed surveys were received. This gave a response rate of 77.6%. Survey invitations were emailed to borrowers after checking the Aleph borrowing record for the devices. The survey was hosted by Qualtrics. It consisted of 15 questions with a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions. A copy of the survey is included in Appendix A. A chance at the prize draw for a Kobo ereader was offered as an incentive.
Survey Findings The Kindle was a more popular choice than the Kobo device, with 58% of survey responses relating to it. This trend continued post-trial, with the total number of loans to August 2013 being 153 for the Kindle devices, and 103 for the Kobo devices. The most important reason for borrowing was to try an ereader for the first time, with over 90% of respondents saying it was “Important” or “Very Important”, see Figure 1 below.
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Figure 1. Reasons for borrowing the ereader
Respondents were positive about the size, weight and screen clarity on both ereaders. Other features liked were the number of books that could be carried on a single device. The ability to change font size and automatic bookmarking were also appreciated. For those borrowers that had tried both devices the preference was for the Kindle because of its faster screen refresh rate. However one user remarked that changing text-size on the Kobo was more intuitive than on the Kindle. The features that users disliked included slow page turns, lack of a backlight, navigation and the clicking sound of buttons. Several users mentioned the small screen size and concern over the robustness of the device. Poor handling of PDF documents was noted by several borrowers. The most helpful source of instruction on using the device for borrowers (see Figure 2) was the SCU Library Guide sheet included in the box, followed by the Kobo or Amazon guide in the box, and then the user guide loaded on the device.
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Figure 2. Sources of help
Most borrowers were pleased with the range of titles on the device. Fifty titles from a range of genres were loaded onto all devices. The Kobo had an additional 100 supplier pre-loaded classics. Many borrowers mentioned the desire to be able to choose their own titles to be loaded. The survey (Figure 3) showed that non-fiction and contemporary/general fiction are the most popular genres. Romantic fiction was the least popular. The top two genre categories on the anonymous online poll on the LibGuide had fantasy/science fiction and contemporary/general fiction (Figure 4).
Figure 3. Preferred genres (survey result)
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Figure 4. Preferred genres (LibGuide online poll result)
Problems Only minor issues arose during the lending trial. Content was sometimes accidentally deleted. On return of devices a nominated library staff member checked returned devices to see if all content was still on the device, and removed personal titles that borrowers may have added. If titles were missing then they were re-loaded. The Kindle model was easier in this regard as titles could be loaded via “whispersync”. The Kobo model at that time was not the wifi enabled version that is available now, and instead had to be connected by USB cable to have titles re-loaded. The only damage during the trial was to one of the Kobo devices which developed a split alongside the navigation button. Subsequent to the trial one of the Kindles fell out of the Amazon cover (which was attached by two metal hooks into the device) which made the screen unreadable. A replacement Kindle (the updated model Kindle Keyboard/Kindle 3) with a leather cover more securely attached with elastic corners was purchased.
Outputs Outputs from the trial included the published literature review1 and the ereader LibGuide.
1
Tees, Tracy. ‘Ereaders in academic libraries: A literature review’. Australian Library Journal, vol. 59, no. 4, pp.180-186.
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Post-trial Since 2011 ereader devices have developed substantially with touch, 3G and colour screen models. Tablet devices such as iPads and Samsung devices with ereader apps have become increasingly popular. The loans records for the ereader devices reflects this decrease in desire for the older technology, with lending rates substantially decreasing in 2012 and 2013 (see Figure 5). 70 63 60 56 50
50
40 37
Kindle 31
30
Kobo
20 14 10 4 3
0 2010
2011
2012
2013
Figure 5. Total loans for the devices
Conclusion The ereader trial was a success in terms of increasing interest in new services being offered by the Library. However, the rapid decline in loan rates shows that unless the Library can afford to update technology models regularly, then interest will quickly taper off. The focus for the Library continues to be the provision of academic content via Electronic Book Library (EBL) or Ebrary subscriptions for borrowers to access on their own devices. These ebooks can be read on computers and tablet devices with applications such as Adobe Digital Editions and Bluefire reader. For fiction or leisure reading the Library has used Student Services and Amenities Fee funds to subscribe to the Overdrive online fiction lending system.
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Appendix A Survey Questions
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Default Question Block Thank you for participating in our Ereader Survey. It should take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. Your answers will help us evaluate the service and a completed survey will enter your name into the draw to win a Kobo ereader. Scroll down to select or type your answers. Use the Next and Back orange arrows at the bottom to change pages. The progress bar shows how much of the survey you have completed.
Which ereader did you borrow? Kindle Kobo
How important to you were the following reasons when you borrowed the ereader? Very unimportant To try an ereader for the first time To try before buying your own ereader To try a different ereader to one you have tried before To read a particular title To consider academic uses for ereaders
What did you like about using the ereader?
Unimportant
Neutral
Important
Very Important
What did you dislike about using the ereader?
How helpful were the following when you were using the ereader?
Very unhelpful Amazon or Kobo guide in the box SCU Library Guide sheet in the box User guide loaded in the ereader Ereader guide at http://libguides.scu.edu.au /ereader Internet: Google, YouTube or web pages A friend or family member Library staff member
Unhelpful
Neutral
Helpful
Very helpful
Not Used/Not Applicable
How did you first find out that the Library was lending an ereader? (Choose one) Word of mouth Email Library website Library catalogue Advertising in the Library Other (please specify)
Tell us your thoughts about SCU Library having ereaders available to borrow:
Have you borrowed a book this year from the Library's leisure reading or fiction collection? Yes No Not sure
What genres do you like to read for pleasure? (Choose all that apply) Action/adventure fiction The classics Contemporary/general fiction Crime/mystery fiction Fantasy/science fiction Horror/supernatural fiction Literary fiction Manga/graphic novels Romantic fiction Young Adult fiction Non-fiction Other (please specify)
Do you have any comments or suggestions about the titles that were loaded on the ereader that you borrowed?
How would you describe yourself as a reader? (Choose one) Occasional reader (reading once a month or less) Moderate reader (reading every week) Frequent reader (reading every day)
Please give your gender: Male Female
Please choose your age range Under 20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71+
Which category best describes you? Undergraduate student - 1st year Undergraduate student - continuing Postgraduate student Academic staff General/Professional staff Other (please specify)
Results of this survey will be collated and analysed, with summary results published on the Library website by May 2011. Would you like to be emailed when these results become available? Yes No
Thank you! You have now completed the Ereader Borrower Survey. If you wish to change or review your answers use the Back button. Clicking Next will submit your answers.
