Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

In January 2012, Kent State University Libraries implemented a

six-month pilot project for a Demand-Driven Acquisitions (DDA)

ebook purchasing model that uses a combination of the acquisition

services provided by the primary book jobber (YBP) and the ac-

cess services provided by a well-known ebook distributer (eBrary).

Using the book jobber mediated DDA model provided the library

with selected discovery records that closely matched specifications

of the library’s print approval plan. This report provides an assess-

ment of the DDA acquisitionmodel as compared to that of the print

books approval model in terms of budget, costs, workflow, subjects,

publishers, and publication dates. Because DDA empowers library

users to choose which ebooks are purchased based on actual use,

this assessment also compares ebook usage from a DDA discovery

pool with print book circulation of an equivalent amount of recent

print acquisitions. The results of this study will help answer some of

the key questions about the DDA acquisition model: (1) How does

DDA align the library’s collection with current user requirements?

(2) Does DDA lead to more active use of library book collection?

(3) Is DDA cost effective as an acquisition model?

(4) What issues are associated with DDA, and how may these issues be addressed?

In 2012, Kent State University Libraries implemented a pilot project

for a Demand Driven Acquisitions (DDA) ebook purchasing model

that used a combination of the acquisition services provided by the

primary book jobber (YBP) and the access services provided by an

ebook distributer (eBrary). Using the book jobber mediated DDA

model provided the library with selected discovery records that

closely matched specifications of the library’s print approval plan.

New discovery records were added to the catalog each week as new

DDA eligible ebooks became available. In this article the author

provides an overview of the pilot project with an emphasis on the

technical services aspects, implementation, and implications for a

sustainable acquisitions model.

With electronic book (ebook) sales and readership rising, are ebooks positioned to replace print books? This study examines the preference for ebooks and print books in the contexts of reading purpose, reading situation, and contextual variables such as age, gender, education level, race/ethnicity, income, community type, and Internet use. Additionally, this study aims to identify factors that contribute to ebook adoption. The results of this study support the notion that ebooks have firmly established a place in people’s lives, but are not yet positioned to take over all the roles of print books. Both print books and ebooks have unique attributes and serve irreplaceable functions in meeting people’s reading needs, which may vary by individual demographic, contextual, and situational factors.

In January 2012, Kent State University Libraries implemented a six-month pilot project for a Demand-Driven Acquisitions (DDA) ebook purchasing model that uses a combination of the acquisition services provided by the primary book jobber (YBP) and the access services provided by a well-known ebook distributer (eBrary). Using the book jobber mediated DDA model provided the library with selected discovery records that closely matched specifications of the library's print approval plan. This report provides an assessment of the DDA acquisition model as compared to that of the print books approval model in terms of budget, costs, workflow, subjects, publishers, and publication dates. Because DDA empowers library users to choose which ebooks are purchased based on actual use, this assessment also compares ebook usage from a DDA discovery pool with print book circulation of an equivalent amount of recent print acquisitions. The results of this study will help answer some of the key questions about the DDA acquisition model: (1) How does DDA align the library's collection with current user requirements? (2) Does DDA lead to more active use of library book collection? (3) Is DDA cost effective as an acquisition model? (4) What issues are associated with DDA, and how may these issues be addressed?

The article reports on the assessment of the patron-driven acquisitions (PDA) ebook purchasing model of the Kent State University Libraries (KSUL) in 2012 compared to that of the print books approval model. It notes that the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) recognized PDA-ebook acquisition as one of the 2012 Top Ten Trends in academic libraries. It cites key findings like the more active use of PDA ebooks than print books and the cost-effectiveness of PDA ebook acquisitions.