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E-books constitute a small percentage of the total loans at public libraries. To determine the factors affecting this poor adoption, we analyzed GaliciaLe, the digital platform of public libraries in Galicia (Spain). Results from a staff survey, as well as circulation and population statistics, show that the sociodemographic characteristics of the municipality served by the library, along with staff habits, expertise, and self-perception of digital reading and e-lending, influence e-book loans. Together with staff opinions, these are reliable indicators for determining circulation among library members. Our research highlights the need for more worker training and investment from the public administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University presses, as one of the major content providers in the scholarly e-book market, especially in humanities and social sciences (HSS), play a critical role in the production and distribution of new knowledge and culture. We investigate the relations among university presses, academic libraries, and e-book vendors, by examining university presses' perceptions of academic libraries and e-book vendors, and presses' perceptions of themselves and the university press community. Findings are drawn from one-on-one interviews with 19 participants from 18 different university presses in the United States during 2020–2021. We observe a market structure for HSS e-books where most presses were satisfied with Big Four e-book vendors, including Project MUSE, EBSCO, ProQuest, and JSTOR, and lacked strong incentives to search for new e-book vendors. We find that most presses often treat libraries, including the one from the same institution, as their customers with limited interactions; findings also show university presses' varied self-imaging, along with a shared perception about the collegiality of the university press community. We then explore the question of why the market is dominated by the Big Four through the theoretical lens developed in platform literature, and further examine the factors contributing to the low communication between university presses and academic libraries related to e-book distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the utilization of e-books and the challenges faced in their use at SMP Negeri Satu Atap 6 Menthobi Raya, Lamandau Regency, in the subject of Islamic Religious Education. This is a field study using a descriptive qualitative approach. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis is conducted through data reduction, data display, and conclusions drawing/verifying, while data validation is done using triangulation techniques. The research findings are, 1) The utilization of e-books has had a positive impact, as teachers are able to use e-books effectively, such as through projector displays and digital distribution via WhatsApp groups, enhancing interactivity and flexibility in the learning process while creating a more enjoyable, modern, and conducive learning environment. From the students' perspective, the use of e-books has been able to increase learning motivation and make them more productive in using gadgets, thereby improving students' learning outcomes. 2) The challenges in utilizing e-books are due to internal factors, which include a lack of attention and active participation in discussions, low confidence in presenting discussion results in front of the class, and a lack of discipline in submitting assignments or uploading work. Meanwhile, external factors include limited internet access, slow internet connections, the absence of smartphones among some students, and teachers' discomfort in adopting new technology-based learning models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research attempts to study University of Agricultural Sciences. Information plays a very importance role in higher education system. These resources include e-books, e-journals and electronic libraries and are better than written books in many ways. In the age of Information technology, it is very easy to get and use information which leads the exploitation of information. Digital information fetching imperative community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What do platforms owe their users, and what do users owe platforms? We adapt the concept of asymmetrical reciprocity from political anthropology as a framework for critiquing the moral economies of platform power. Asymmetrical reciprocities are collectively held beliefs that authority figures should give or receive more than is normally acceptable. We argue that platforms style themselves as patrons to legitimize their asymmetric power – they cultivate a perception of giving more than they take so that, in practice, they can take more than they give. This is a fragile legitimacy, however, and users are not dupes. Users push back against policies that benefit platforms at their expense by issuing demands and coordinating action. We present three vignettes showing this process among a diverse set of platform constituencies – live-streamers, e-book authors, and sex workers. The vignettes show how asymmetrical reciprocities generate frictions that can destabilize platform legitimacy. Finally, we argue that where platforms choose to invest in 'legitimacy costs' reveals the asymmetricality of platform power. Platforms grant inducements and concessions for privileged users, but subject marginalized groups to a coercive regime of policing and exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into how the presentation medium of texts impacts students’ reading comprehension and attitudes. Employing a quasi-experimental mixed-method approach, it explores the effects of e-books on EFL students’ comprehension and attitudes toward reading. A total of 28 female EFL students enrolled in the preparatory year program (PYP) at a public Saudi university comprised the intact sample, subsequently divided into a treatment group and a control group. Over a period of five weeks, the treatment group utilized the e-book version of the reading textbook via tablets, while the control group utilized the printed version of the same textbook. Data collection involved Fan (2009) pre-post reading comprehension test, Stokman (1999) reading attitudes questionnaire, and interviews. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to assess the efficacy of e-books in enhancing EFL learners’ reading comprehension and to probe into their reading attitudes. Furthermore, a qualitative analysis of interview responses was conducted to complement quantitative findings. The study’s results revealed that employing e-books led to a significant improvement in reading comprehension among female EFL students. Additionally, it was observed that the use of e-books positively impacted students’ attitudes towards reading.

The mode of reading plays a vital role in signifying the relationship between reading (getting the information) and remembering, which, in the end, transforms into professional skills formation. We looked at the assessment of the study's success in using different sources of the specialty study information (print and e-Books). The research was based on the analysis of students’ exam success in their bachelor's degree. The sampling frame was defined within the undergraduate student population with a simple random sampling method. An online-based survey questionnaire was performed and the data collected and examined. The findings showed a significantly higher level of success in exam performance and retention among students who utilized print books instead of e-Books as a primary mode of reading. It was noted that eye strain becomes a negative factor in using e-Books and adversely affects the reading time of the students. The usage of e-Books should not be promoted without a further conscious understanding of their pros and cons. We present a local assessment of the efficacy of using e-books in the higher education process by analysing student exam performance in Sri Lanka when using print books and e-books. It was concluded that prioritizing and promoting print book usage among universities and libraries improved academic results among under-graduates and that print book usage shows students are better able to comprehend data when compared to e-book usage.

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by working students in patronizing library services in Nigeria and to propose tailored solutions to enhance their patronage. A descriptive survey research design was used to collect data from 110 working undergraduate students, which was then analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings showed that busy job schedules, limited time on campus, and the fact that they mainly come to the campus for lectures are the primary reasons why working students rarely patronize the library. However, most of them expressed the need for library access tailored to their unique needs, which includes remote or distance approach. The preferred methods for accessing library services among working students include selective dissemination of e-books to their emails and having librarians available on a dedicated WhatsApp number. Additionally, they indicated openness to the idea of using chatbots to respond to their library requests. The study concluded that the use of technology such as email, instant messenger, and chatbots can address the challenges hindering library patronage by working students. Thus, the study recommends that library administrators invest in developing and adopting these technologies to meet the demands of working students in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the digital age, university students are progressively reliant on internet tools to aid their academic activities. Understanding and exploiting these resources is significant to academic performance and research efficiency. The purpose of this observational study is to evaluate how university students use and comprehend library internet resources. This review sheds light on how students interact with digital library tools and resources by inspective current usage trends, difficulties encountered, and techniques used. The findings are designed to inform educators and librarians about the areas where students may necessity further support and coaching to develop their information literacy and resource use abilities. This study performs a systematic observation and analysis of student interactions with online library technologies such as database searches, e-books, and digital journals. The review uses association of direct observation, user surveys, and data analysis to classify common patterns, obstacles, and opportunities for development in students' engagement with online library resources. The findings identify a variety of activities, from proficient usage to significant knowledge gaps, and provide ideas on how libraries might improve user support and training. This analysis intends to provide actionable recommendations for librarians and educators on how to increase the effectiveness of online library services and students' academic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is all about using e-books by scientists in research institutes in India. To identify gender-wise usage of e-books by scientists, to understand the purchase and usage of e-books and e-resources, to observe the way of access and usage to e-books, to understand the frequency of the usage of e-books, to detect the type of problems faced by scientists while accessing e-books and to know the reasons for not attending the training program/orientation on using e-resources. The questionnaire method was used to gather the data. An entire 860 questionnaires were distributed, and 700 filled questionnaires were received, with a response rate of 81.39%. The study results show that the maximum number of respondents are male (59.15%) scientists, and 65.7% of RRI scientists use to purchase and use e-books. A maximum number of scientists access e-books purchased by their research institute. 52.8% of scientists feel that many e-books could be more beneficial for their research. More than 50% of scientists feel they need no training to access e-books. It is very clear from the study that research institute libraries must subscribe to e-books useful to their scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the outcomes of a comparative analysis of specific open educational resources (OER) in the context of significant developments after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly within the Anglo-Saxon context. The aftermath of the pandemic witnessed the significant role of universities in managing new open libraries providing free educational materials to students and the public. The evaluation focused on OER for pedagogical disciplines, a key area for students training to be teachers or novice educators. The authors developed assessment criteria based on existing literature, including the year of publication, length, structure, purpose, type of links, supplementary materials, learning activities, and the incorporation of digital elements within the EST&LDE concept proposed by Kolář, Malach, and Vicherková in 2023. Eight e-books were examined, all emphasising connections with other study resources and integrating digital elements in the teaching process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People tend to embrace emerging technologies to make their lives easier in every possible aspect. This has its impact in the field of education as well in terms of pedagogies, interactive tools, learning management systems, and more specifically instructional materials. Amongst the instructional materials, e-books have recently become popular in the sphere of education. It gained popularity during the pandemic situation when the shops were shut to get printed books which reinforced students to adopt e-books. This study intends to find the preference of the students of Velammal College of Engineering & Technology in Madurai with respect to e-books (not the interactive ones) and printed books so that the results can facilitate in decision making as to what kind of sources the educationists should invest on. A survey was conducted using a structured fivepoint Likert scale questionnaire. It was shared with the students and their responses were recorded. Random sampling method was used for the choice of the participants. Cronbach alpha test was carried out to verify the reliability of the questionnaire. Having carried out the t-test to check whether the two groups vary from each other, the comparative analysis research methodology was used for data analysis. This study also deals with the pros and cons of both e-books and printed books based on the survey. The results of the study confirms that the students still seem to prefer printed books over e-books. The findings suggest that the educationists should prioritize student preferences and ensure the availability of light weight printed books everywhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential that students develop the skill of reading comprehension during their schooling, although it has been defined in various ways. The Programme for International Student Assessment indicates that a substantial proportion of students fail to develop sufficient reading skills during their schooling. While it is easy to understand the concept of reading comprehension, the various factors and processes involved in it make it quite complex as a task, and many factors can affect the performance of reading comprehension. This study, using an e-book experiment, explores the factors that predict reading comprehension ability among indigenous Taiwanese high school students using different teaching methods (teacher read aloud and teacher questioning). The participants were indigenous students studying at a high school in Hualien County, Taiwan. Using five scales, the study investigated correlations among two teaching methods and prior knowledge, reading comprehension, reading strategies, reading attitudes, and reading motivation. Correlation analysis and hierarchical regression were conducted to assess the impact of the two main teaching methods on reading comprehension scores and predictive factors. The results indicated that both methods showed a significant positive correlation with prior knowledge and with reading comprehension scores. In the teacher read-aloud method, reading motivation showed a significant positive correlation with reading comprehension scores, while for the use of teacher questioning, reading strategies provided a significant positive correlation with reading comprehension scores. This study sheds light on the predictive factors for reading learning among indigenous Taiwanese students under different teaching methods, which holds considerable significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have examined the positive and negative effects of various types of interactions that occur while children view electronic book (e-book) stories. However, the effects of the different types of interactions have not been compared, and more importantly, the optimal amount and reoccurrence of these interactions on children has not been explored. The present study was designed to fill this gap by examining the effect of amount, type and reoccurrence of e-book interactions on kindergarteners' new word learning and story comprehension. To do so, 72 children aged 5–6 year-old viewed three picture e-book stories in one session read by digital narrators, and then repeated this procedure in a second session. Each story included a word clarification or a story elaboration type of interaction, which occurred at low (every two screens), medium (every screen), or high frequency (more than once on most screens) during viewing. Following each story, participants were asked to define target words and answer comprehension questions. Results showed that increasing the amount of interactions, whether word clarifications or elaborations, enhanced word learning and story comprehension following the second exposure to the e-book stories. These findings suggest that interruptions during e-book viewing to explain difficult words or expand the plot by inferential information, do not interfere with the narrative course and do not impair learning processes, at least not in the amounts of interactions examined in this study. These conclusions bear practical implications for the design of e-books, and more generally, for the interactive approach adults may adopt when reading a story to children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While management and network scholars have long asked why some groups adapt to innovation more readily than others, such questions have been surprisingly absent in studies of new media production. We offer a network analytical framework which relates producers' informal networks to their capacity to adopt digital innovations. Through a network ethnography of 4264 romance writers, we find that established authors who reversed traditional advice patterns, by seeking advice from inexperienced newcomers rather than experienced peers, were more likely to adopt digital self-publishing. By linking the concept of relational labor to network structures, we demonstrate the value of "networking down" in a digitally disrupted cultural industry—a surprising finding in a business where networking up, to powerful actors, has seemed critical for success. We argue that strategic relational labor by established content creators facilitates adaptation to digital conditions and provides some measure of protection against precarity in a changing landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal has always been a source of conflict in academic and scientific libraries. Amid the increasing relevance of electronic resources, the disposal of e-books is becoming pertinent as well. Weighing up the pros and cons, every academic library should consider carefully whether it sides with the "Das frisst kein Brot/It doesn't consume space" team or the "Need to weed" team. The paper makes a proposal where to start the negotiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Library examined its current acquisitions circulation rate over a period of five years (from 2017-2021) to determine whether materials being added met student and faculty needs as demonstrated by circulation patterns, and if there was a difference in circulation patterns between acquired print and e-books that might help the library determine where to better focus its resources: print or electronic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study was aimed at comparing different formats of illustrations for children's books created by modern Chinese and Ukrainian artists. At the same time, it was not focused just on determining the leading format, but on identifying the attractiveness factors of each format. To this end, the study investigated children's illustration preferences drawing from the following three age groups: 5–6 years old (preschoolers), 7–8 years old (second‐graders), and 9–10 years old (fourth‐graders). According to the survey, children were most concerned with illustration colourfulness (this is true for paper and pop‐up books) and viewing convenience. There were no statistically significant differences found between Chinese and Ukrainian books in terms of these parameters. At the same time, Chinese e‐books appeared to outperform the Ukrainian texts in terms of feature management and illustration colourfulness. Publishers and artists of children's books can use these data for effective creative activity and making constructive decisions. At the same time, these findings may be of interest to parents, informing or guiding book selection for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Cirebon region, there are several environmental issues exists, one of the problems is pollution. In the context of modern information technology, there's a growing preference for electronicbased educational materials. This study aims to evaluate the environmental pollution levels in Cirebon and develop a e-pocket book as a biology learning resource for high school students. The research follows the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) and utilizes observations, questionnaires, and documentation for data collection. The environmental assessment was conducted in Cirebon city and regency, and the learning media developed at MAN 2 Cirebon City. Results from the Environmental Quality Index (IKLH) indicate moderate pollution levels in Kejaksan District and mild-moderate levels in Talun District. The e-book was created using the Canva application and finalized into a link format compatible with laptops and Android smartphones. It underwent validation by material experts, media experts, biology educators, and student users, receiving favorable feedback with an overall rating of 87.24% deemed very satisfactory. It can be concluded that the development of this e-book on environmental pollution can be used as a learning media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of e-books into university libraries has allowed for interesting analysis and discussions in recent years about user preferences between printed and electronic books, the difficulties and challenges librarians face in their incorporation into libraries, among other aspects. However, with this work, the main objective is to analyze the changes that are occurring in South American university libraries regarding the processes of subject heading assignment and classification codes with the massive incorporation of e-books, as well as to understand librarians’ perceptions of these changes. To achieve this, we developed and distributed a web-based questionnaire consisting of twenty-four questions to a total of 1,175 university libraries in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, from which we received 123 responses (10.5%). Among other findings, it is concluded that indexing and classification processes are losing relevance in librarians’ activities, the quality of metadata provided by publishers does not seem to be a significant factor for librarians, and furthermore, the data obtained does not clearly indicate a paradigm shift in relation to indexing and classification processes.