Ebook collection analysis: subject and publisher trends

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an assessment of an ebook collection in an academic library, and attempts to locate usage trends by subject and publisher.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was based on: three years of usage data from two e‐book packages: NetLibrary and Ebrary; two methods of purchase: NetLibrary was a one‐time purchase; Ebrary is purchased on a subscription basis. The research evaluated usage difference over time between the two packages and analyzed subject and publisher usage.

Findings

The research found that Ebrary showed increased usage over time; NetLibrary demonstrated decreased usage; subject analysis showed ebooks in health sciences and hotel had highest usage; publisher analysis results illustrated the fact that five publishers had highest usage in both ebook collections.

Research limitations/implications

For circulation rate of each ebook package, two years of data were not available for Ebrary, resulting in incomplete comparison over three‐year period between the two packages.

Practical implications

The paper assists in identifying usage patterns of ebooks across publishers and subjects; compares two different business models of obtaining ebooks; and helps with effective selection of ebooks to support teaching and learning.

Originality/value

Usage data over three years provided evidence to help libraries select a business model for acquiring ebooks; the research provides assessment of ebook collections to identify trends across publishers and subjects.

Citation

Cory Tucker, J. (2012), "Ebook collection analysis: subject and publisher trends", Collection Building, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 40-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/01604951211229836