Stanford Engineering Library Embraces Econtent; 98,000 Volumes Now Offsite
By David Rapp July 14, 2010When the Stanford University Engineering Library finishes moving into its newly constructed facility at the beginning of August, there will a lot fewer print items on its shelves. So far, about 98,000 books and journals--more than 85 percent of the library's print collections--have been moved to an offsite library materials storage facility.
At the same time, the library has added more digital content, as well as new technology options, including ereaders. The library's latest moves have been characterized in some recent press accounts, including a National Public Radio story, as part of a general move toward "bookless" libraries--even though some 15,000 print items will remain on-hand, at least for now.
More ebooks
Helen Josephine, the head librarian at the Engineering Library, told LJ that their catchphrase is "less books, not bookless." However, she noted, many science and technology publishers are moving rapidly to an all-digital model, and she expects that the Engineering Library will be print-free within a decade.
"Already, we spend more on ebooks than we do on print books," said Josephine, "so we are acquiring more [ebooks] than print. We are also experimenting with Kindles, Sony Readers, and the Apple iPad as an option for students." (The library is adding 15 ereaders.)
More specialized digital content is also being added, including standards collections, material properties databases, and engineering specifications and handbooks.
New tech
New iPhone apps also offer online chat and mobile reference. "We are encouraging our vendors to explore mobile applications for all of the products they are producing in digital format," said Josephine. Digital bulletin boards, display screens, and touch-screen kiosks will aid group instruction and search capability. Meanwhile, the course management system for reserve readings will directly link to online articles and books (or book chapters).
Also, xSearch--the search tool codeveloped by Stanford and Santa Fe, NM-based Deep Web Technologies and launched in March--will allow students access to a host of scientific databases and ebooks, with more being added for the fall term.
E for engineering
Josephine said that the engineering students seem to more amenable to using ebooks than students in other disciplines. "Frequently they are looking for a specific formula, specification, drawing, or plan," she said, "and having the full-text search capability of ebooks allows them to find exactly what they need immediately."
The ebooks are convenient in other ways, as well. Most of the library's ebook licenses, including those with Springer, Wiley, and Elsevier, allow unlimited concurrent usage, which means that an ebook is never unavailable, she said. The library also allows students the ability to purchase a print-on-demand copy for their own use, if desired.
While the 98,000 print items that have been moved offsite can accessed within 24 to 48 hours, Josephine noted that many of the offsite print items have already been scanned as part of the Google Books project--though when and how Stanford students and faculty will be able to access these scans has yet to be resolved.
