50:50 by 2020 ebook trendsSurvey of Australian schools

October 2014

Judy O’Connell, Dr Jennie Bales and Pru Mitchell

O’Connell, J., Bales, J., & Mitchell, P. (2015). [R]Evolution in reading cultures: 2020 vision for school libraries. The Australian Library Journal, 64(3),194-208.

10.1080/00049670.2015.1048043.

2020 vision456 Australian schools predict: What proportion of the school’s collection will be digital in the year 2020

What influences our digital vision?

Keyword analysis of reasons for predicting 50:50 ebook collection by 2020

So, what is an ebook?

Ebook categories1. ebooks

Electronic versions of print books, typically with pagination and linear structure. Can be read or listened to on an ereader, tablet or on a computer. May require software.

2. etextbooks Electronic versions of print textbooks, including images, maps and exercises. Typically with tools for bookmarking and note-taking. Often also presented in a corresponding online format with embedded multimedia elements, links to related internet sites, quizzes and tests.

3. enhanced ebooks may includea. interactive storybooksb. hypertext ebooksc. transmedia ebooks

Inspired by Lamb (2011) & Larson (2009)

Primary schools under-represented

ACT all schools

NSW

F-12

NSW

Primary

NSW

Secondary

NT all schools

QLD

F-12

QLD

Primary

QLD

Secondary

SA F-12

SA Primary

SA Secondary

TAS F-12

TAS Primary

TAS Secondary

VIC F-12

VIC Primary

VIC Secondary

WA F-12

WA Prim

ary

WA Secondary

-20%

-15%

-10%

-5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

12.3 Schools and Students—August 2010, ABS http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1301.0~2012~Main%20Features~Primary%20and%20secondary%20education~105

Government schools under-represented

According to ABS (August 2010). 12.3 Schools and Students

Government Catholic Independent

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

Role of respondent by school sector

Devices provided by schools

Primary F-12 Secondary0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Interactive whiteboardsSchool desktopsSchool laptopsSchool tabletsLoan ereadersLoan tablets

BYOD: what students bring

Primary F-12 Secondary0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Personal devices (inc tablets)Personal laptopsPersonal ereaders

Etextbooks in less than 50% schools

Etextbooks low priority in primary

Primary F-12 Sec0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

All textbooks are etextbooksSome etextbooks in useConsidering etextbooksNo plans for etextbooks

School libraries manage etextbooks

Parents School bookroom School library Subject/class coordinators0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

PrimaryF-12Sec

WA 27% 0% 38% 77%

Enhanced ebooks in fewer collections

No enhanced ebooks or a

pps

Book apps and/o

r enhanced ebooks

Websites w

ith onlin

e literature co

llecti

ons

Online su

bscriptions

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

PrimaryF-12Sec

Who selects enhanced ebooks/apps

Teacher librarians

Teachers

Subject coordinators

ICT Coordinators

Principal/Assistant Principals

Librarians

Library technicians

Students

Support staff

Parents

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Ebooks 5% or less of library collections

Ebook providers in Australian schools 2014

Kobo

Infobase

Bolinda

Student/staff created ebooks

Gale

Apple iBooks

Amazon

OverDrive

Spinney Press

Project Gutenberg

Wheelers ePlatform

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Bolinda

Macmillan

Direct from author

OverDrive

Curriculum Press

Project Gutenberg

Wheelers ePlatform

Student/staff created ebooks

Amazon

Apple iBooks

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Top 10 ebook providers overall Top 10 ebook providers Primary schools

How long has your school provided access to ebooks?

Evaluating impact of ebooks

Ebook budgets % increasing (slowly)

Implementation issues

Overall barriers to ebook adoption

Insufficient te

chnology

to su

pport 1 to

1 acce

ss

Lack o

f devic

es for e

reading

Limite

d budget fo

r resource

s

Limite

d budget fo

r ebook i

nfrastr

ucture

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

don't knowmajor issuesomewhat of an issuea minor issuenot an issue

Barriers for schools with no ebooks

Insufficient technology to support 1 to 1 access

Lack of devices for ereading

Limited budget for resources

Limited budget for ebook infrastructure

Lack of systemic support

Content required is not available in ebook form

No demand for ebooks from users

Lack of technical support

Lack of understanding of managing ebooks

Limited options for acquiring ebooks

Difficulties integrating into library system

Staff or administrative resistance

Parent resistance

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

No ebooksOverall

Conclusions and questions

ReferencesAustralian Bureau of Statistics (2010). 12.3 Schools and StudentsAustralian Library and Information Association (2013).

50:50 by 2020.Australian Library and Information Association (2013),

Ebooks and elending issues paper. King, J. (2014). E-books for leisure and learning: The Brisbane Boys'

College experience. Access, 28(3), 42-46. Lamb, A. (2011). Reading redefined for a transmedia universe.

Learning & Leading with Technology. 39(3), 12-17.Larson, L. (2009). E-reading and e-responding: New tools for the

next generation of readers. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(30), 255-258. doi:10.1598/JAAL.53.3.7.

O’Connell, J., Bales, J., & Mitchell, P. (2015). [R]Evolution in reading cultures: 2020 vision for school libraries. The Australian Library Journal, 64(3),194-208. 10.1080/00049670.2015.1048043.

School Library Journal (2014). Survey of ebook usage in U.S. school libraries: Fifth annual survey.

Softlink (2014). Australian School Library Survey