Print resources versus online subscriptions

[Karen Bonanno]

Each issue of the ASLA national journal, Access, includes a frequently asked question from the workplace.

What are your thoughts on this FAQ - "With the Internet fast becoming students' first port of call when it comes to research, should I spend my budget on print resources or on online subscriptions?"

Check out what responses were submitted to the journal at Cost just one factor to consider and then add your comments to this forum.

[jackie]

When it comes to budget considerations, other factors have to be taken into consideration as well as the population and the ways in which the library has been brought into the digital era. And I don't think I have to put all my moneis in either or area. The spending needs to address local academic and cultural needs while pushing teachers and students into the digital arena. I do believe that there is a space for the magazine in the school libraries....I have students hooked on some of these magazines...eventhough they can be read online...I think it has to do with the touching on paper versus the seeing on screen... but I also believe that online and virtual resources need to be at the forefront of library work.
Web resources and online subscriptions are the first stop for most students but just now are these resources getting the hang of content versus reading level and interest. Many online resources cater to the well read, middle class student and very few, if any, are addressing the increase need (at least in my area) of online resources that cater to older students from various ethnic background that have yet to master the English language.
In my county, online subscriptions are bought in bulk, centrally; media specialists evaluate these subscriptions on an yearly basis and collectivelly decide on a few that can address the curriculum. My own school based budget is allocated to magazines which I select deliberately to address specific cultural and reading levels and interests. The question now is no longer where to allocate the moneis or to bring students in or even to close the digital divide; I think the question now needs to be framed around the gains and losses of cultural and ethnic inheritances when we, librarians, need to select and dis-select materials and make them available to students.

[KayC]

The right tool, at the right time, in the right place....
Currently I am struggling with the decision as to whether to subscribe to World Book online. We are a primary school. Information literacy and research skills are of key importance to me, and I am passionate about integrating technology, but where needed.

I am of the belief currently (and am happy to be convinced otherwise if given a strong argument) that skills such as identifying key words, note-taking, skimming and scanning etc are best taught using old fashioned paper texts, before students move onto information on screens. The physical act of highlighting the key words, writing down the notes....if kids have these skills down pat, then moving to researching from online sources should be easy.

Am I being 'digital immigrant' in my thinking? These are kids who are 7, 8 years old. They have access to technology, but are currently just becoming fluent readers. Am I underestimating the transferability of their skills? I definitely believe research from the screen is the way of the future - I rarely use books in my Masters research - but I just can't shake the belief that once kids have the research skills and are comfortable with simple texts that they can physically work with, then they will move onto using online texts in a more meaningful, and hopefully less 'cut and paste' way.....

World Book online looks awesome - but once they access it, will all the bells and whistles distract them from their task of researching from the text?? I'd love to know your thoughts?

[Tom Danby]

I actually sell primary books - mainly non-fiction, and I was stunned last year to see that the publishers we represent are all issuing ISBNs for paperback, hardback and e-book versions of every new book they schedule for publishing.
These e-books are currently available as single CDRom packs, but they have just launched their online library as a subscription service - 200+ books, some in LOTE languages, and they have linked with public library services like Overdrive to offer timed public lending of the same titles.
There is no doubt that the publishers see this format - compact Flash files - as the way forward in non-fiction and graphic fiction. They seem less interested at the moment in B&W text versions of their fiction, but that might be because this fits more easily into the e-book model already operating in the adult area.
I also have some Australian secondary publishers who are issuing updated editions only in pdf format on disc. These already have active web links, but they are also talking about imbedding film and other resources into the pdf files ( Adobe recently ran presentations on the amazing capability of pdf to act as a container for other media ) and offering these by subscription with updates automatically sent to subscribers.
I, of course, am quite interested to see what impact this has on my business, but I am also veru imprerssed with the depth these new formats offer the teacher and readers.
Tom Danby
INT BOOKS

[Kathy Andrew]

In my current library I am sure that most online subscriptions would be competely out of the question. I am in a primary school and many of the students are very new to searching for information at all. Generally I do not encourage searching for information in an encyclopaedia as the ones in our library, that I haven't disposed of, are dated and US based. However the online version would be well out of our budgetry range.
I do give the students access to as many books on the topic as possible and encourage them to find the information there. I do wonder sometimes if I am just sentimentally attached to the books.

[KayC]

I agree with your statement - I sometimes thing I am sentimentally attached to books - I often wonder if this is why I feel opposed to online encyclopedias in primary school. However the fact is that while in the future books may no longer exist physically, at the moment they still do, and while they do, I believe students need to have experience with them. I also am concerned that using an online encyclopedia while still very young may elicit the belief that information available on the computer is always correct and reliable - which is definitely not the case when considering the internet!

[Tom Danby]

I appreciate the comments about online subscriptions, but the publishers are offering online "bookshelves" - the books are displayed cover out and the click opens the books and it is read to you or you can read at your own pace. Many public libraries already offer this in picture books and e-book text fiction. But what interests me is that the newest range are all non-fiction. The kids don't have to navigate a menu, just browse the books on the shelves.

[Barbara Tibbits]

Digital resources are often chosen by my secondary students over print resources. However, without teaching the students how to assess the validity, bias and reliability of any resource, research is often cursory. Wikipedia is often the first and only port of call. Site licences/conditions of use of on-line subscriptions would need to be checked to allow student access from home and this would probably add to cost.
Relevant print resources are often used by some groups in preference to digital resources. eg ESL's, reluctant readers, G&T ("I get sidetracked on the internet Miss. Can I use journals?")