Amir Ghaebi and Sepideh Fahimifar
This paper aims to consider the most important criteria of e‐book acquisition in academic libraries. The survey seeks these reasons on the basis of two aspects: e‐book features…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to consider the most important criteria of e‐book acquisition in academic libraries. The survey seeks these reasons on the basis of two aspects: e‐book features for users and for information professionals or libraries. Moreover, restrictions on e‐books acquisition are surveyed with regard to information professionals' attitude.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey research method is used in this study with questionnaire and interview used for data gathering. The statistical population consisted of 60 information professionals working at state universities of metropolitan Tehran.
Findings
The results show that high storage capacity and multimedia capability are the most important features in acquiring e‐books on the basis of academic user needs. Also, the main criteria of acquiring e‐books from the professionals' point of view of fostering their interests are: occupying little space, ease of selection and simultaneous circulation. Moreover, this study shows that the main restrictions of e‐book acquisition are: hardware and software restrictions, the lack of a union catalog for Iranian e‐books, low level of user familiarity, hackers and even eye‐fatigue when reading.
Originality/value
This study takes the form of unique research that surveys the e‐book acquisition criteria in Iran on the basis of two aspects (user and library) with focus on information professionals' attitude, simultaneously. In addition, there has not been any research on e‐books in Iran, and this study is the first.