Measuring the Past to Guide the Future: Takeaways from a Retrospective Disciplinary Analysis on Print Books and Ebooks

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between librarians’ purchases and the actual preferences of library patrons based on usage. Using ten years of purchase history, we reviewed how print and ebook preferences have changed over time and what role, if any, discipline plays in format preferences. This information will be used to help subject librarians across various disciplines to make informed print and ebook purchases, relying on actual patron preferences rather than guesswork.

Keywords:

• Monographs
• just in case
• just in time
• purchase history
• percent used