| Summary: | 碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 圖書資訊學系 === 93 === Along with the development of electronic technology, libraries have gradually put their emphasis on the electronic collection. Increase of e-book collection and services has become one of the most important issues in all kinds of libraries, including academic libraries. To manage library resources and manpower effectively, fully understanding the use and needs among users is critical. In this study, the use and needs of e-book were investigated among students in five different universities.
Results of the study reveal that the use of online e-books in academic libraries is rather infrequent among students. The main motive for students’ use of online e-books derived from their class assignments. Most students expected e-books offering full-text searching and periodical updating in contents. For their regular reading, most students preferred print-based than electronic format due to print-based books were handy and not irritating to eyes for long-term reading. Those who preferred using e-books appreciated search and print features provided with e-books. With respect to service demand, students suggested more e-books about thesis and dissertations subscribed by libraries. Moreover, they felt inconvenient for limiting access to the use the e-books within campus network. Students also expected to use the online catalogue to search for both printed and electronic books. They also hoped to be able to obtain relevant information about those e-books they read. The results of this study also suggest that students with different characteristics and experiences of using e-books differed in their reactions to specific use of e-books.
From the research, it is suggested that academic libraries should develop a variety of specialty in academic electronic collection to reflect the needs of different departments and colleges, and allow the students to search both printed and electronic collections via online catalogue. It is also important to improve relevant information literacy among library users and librarians. Academic libraries should also work on setting policies with the e-book publishers for using e-books. On the other hand, e-book developers should also exploit more functions easy to be adapted by the users.
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