Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/84623
Embracing Libraries enhancing collections electronically An American Library Association report indicates that approximately 66 percent of the public libraries in the United States off ered e-books in 2011. This number is up from 38 percent only two years prior. "According to Library Journal, 60 percent of libraries that do not currently off er e-books expect to do so within two years, the ALA report prepared by its Offi ce of Information Technology Policy E-book Task Force. " states Having such resources available online is important to the mission of the Libraries and university. And students today are more inclined to use technology to support their academic work and projects. "The generations accustomed to printed materials only are fading away, sophomore Shelby Shafer, who utilizes CMU Libraries' electronic resources. " says In touch online E-books are mostly digital versions of printed books, and for several years CMU Libraries have included e-books in the collections to meet the growing demands for online books from their patrons. E-books are providing students information that is only a click away. Being able to search the library catalog online and to click on a link to see if a book meets their needs "gives students more fl exibility with their hectic schedules, Matthew Ismail, director of Park Library collection development. Serving students of today Years ago, college was a vastly diff erent experience that enabled students more time to go to the library and pick out the books they needed. Today's students are pressed to the limit with time demands, from working more than one job to being involved on campus and taking a full course load, as well as students who are working full time and enrolled in online and off -campus programs. "E-books are important because many students do not have the same college experience as I did, a lot more going on, which often makes getting to the library to retrieve resources diffi cult." " Ismail says. "They have " says When the Libraries purchase an e-book, users can access it through a URL created for the university's electronic copy, according to Pamela Grudzien, Libraries' head of technical services. Users can access it through their personal computing devices, and by establishing an e-book account through the Libraries can highlight information and make notes in the text. Grudzien says library offi cials are meeting with book publishers to pursue expanded options for users to access and download e–books. E-books are important for fl exibility and serving the needs of today's students, but print books will continue as timeless and reliable sources of information. "I only read books in print," freshman Sarah Johnson says. "I believe a storybook has more character when you get to feel the pages. I love being able to fl ip to the next page because it just adds to the experience. " • Students communicate with librarians via instant messaging Just the second day of the spring semester, a student asks a question of Timothy Peters, the Libraries' director of information services, who is staffi ng the Reference Desk at Park Library. It's a typical question – "Does the library have the North American Journal of Fisheries Management?" – but it's a relatively new experience. Peters never sees the student to whom he's responding because the entire conversation is conducted online. In recent years University Libraries have implemented methods for students to utilize library services virtually, including reference librarians. Such developments off er patrons the opportunity to use the Internet and e-books 10