Information storage: Digital vs. Print format

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Information storage Digital vs. Print format

• Holly Steckman
• LIBR 180
• Area 2
• Spring 2005

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Formats of Info storage used today

• Print versions are still used widely today, but
  libraries are making it increasingly easier for
  patrons to access the same information on online
  databases.
• CD-roms arent used much anymore as an effective
  means of information storage in libraries.
• Databases are used frequently in libraries.
  Databases are produced by vendors which sell
  subscriptions to libraries for patron use.

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More about Databases

• Databases include information from reference
  books, directories, magazines, newspapers and
  journal articles.
• Two of the largest database vendors used by KCLS
  are ProQuest and Gale Thompson. KCLS offers over
  50 databases for patron use.
• Because of proliferation of information through
  databases, KCLS buys fewer print reference books
  for the libraries reference collections.

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Pros of electronic versions

• Some larger reference volumes can be too
  expensive for every library to own, but database
  versions are more affordable and therefore
  available to a larger amount of libraries.
• Databases are accessible outside of the library.
• Online content can be updated more frequently.
• Finding answers is often quicker and more
  efficient than when using its printed counterpart
• Searchability across large bodies of content is
  available
• Storing and transferring data is much easier and
  takes up less space.

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Pros of Print versions

• Print versions cannot go down like online
  versions can.
• Some people prefer print versions as they can be
  much easier to browse.
• You can experience a connection to an original
  manifestation of work.
• Historical value can be present in many print
  versions.
• People who are not familiar with computers will
  more often have better results with print
  versions.

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Which format do library clientele prefer?
A two-year research project was preformed at the
University of Michigan which involved 61 faculty
interviews about what was preferred electronic
or print versions in the libraries.

• Overall, over 82 percent of faculty respondents
  expressed a preference for electronic access,
  either exclusively or with some limited print
  backup. Of the remaining faculty, eight (12)
  expressed a preference for access to both formats
  while 4 (6) could be characterized as preferring
  print only.

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Issues behind the choices

• Journals in electronic form were preferred over
  print form. Speedy delivery and convenience
  drove this decision, along with the fact that
  journals have no romance lingering about them.
  Although, many people liked to print their
  articles from these e-journals to save their eyes
  from computer-monitor strain.

Both Print Electronic
Print
Mainly electronic maybe small print back-up
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Issues behind the choices cont.

• Books were preferred in print form. One
  interviewee stated The book is still one of the
  most efficient data retrieval mechanisms we have.
  You can take a book off the shelf and flip
  through it very easily and see what you want. It
  is very difficult to do that online." He added
  that "you take a long time with a book, reading
  20 or 30 hourswhereas with a journal you're
  skipping through and peeking at an article and
  spending two or three hours on that article and
  then looking for another article. Books are
  different. Books are meant to be held and
  savored."

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Issues cont.

• It was noted that many of the older generation
  scholars preferred print versions to e-versions
  of information retrieval. One senior professor
  added, "You know, I suppose if I were more modern
  and I had a longer time horizon, I'd be able to
  figure out all this stuff on the computer myself."

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Whats the verdict?
When asked to choose between either print or
electronic formats, most interviewees could not
give a straight answer.

• Most faculty prefers to have print versions
  around just in case.
• Most faculty would feel more comfortable letting
  librarians or the beaurocrats make the choice
  of print vs. digital formats.

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Foreseen problems with dual-storage libraries

• Most libraries have dual formats, one in hard
  copy and one in digital. The worry is that
  buying both formats may cause libraries to cut
  other less used resources out of the collection
  all together in order to save money. This will
  result in a steady decline in accessibility to
  less aggressive publisher titles, foreign
  language titles, and titles with narrowly focused
  subjects.

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The perfect information storage format
It seems that there is not one perfect way to
store and retrieve information for every library
user nor for every subject or reason information
is used. Some internet savvy patrons will prefer
online versions while the cultural anthropology
teacher will say "For my 19th-century stuff, I
like to goand see the real thing. The best way
to find out what's thereis to go to these
journals and browse through them, and then you
get a better feeling for context." The best way
to find out which way your library should swing
is to ask your clientele about their preferences
and priorities when it comes to finding
information while keeping your budget in mind.
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Sources

• KCLS Ask a Librarian William from the Bellevue
  library on information storage and retrieval at
  KCLS
• Library Journal article, What Do Faculty Want?
  http//www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp?layoutart
  iclearticleidCA266432publicationlibraryjournal
  
• American Library Association www.ala.org