Evaluation of a Library E-Book Lending Platform for Department of Transportation Employees with Personal Reading Devices: Results of a Trial and User Satisfaction Survey

In 2012 the Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT) Research Library conducted a trial of the electronic book database of EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO). The goals of the trial were to determine the level of interest by Virginia DOT employees in accessing e-books, to observe usage patterns and preferences of users in accessing content (EBSCO offered three access options for viewing onscreen or downloading to a personal device), to observe and gather usage statistics during the trial, to survey users on their experience and preferences for e-book devices, and to learn whether patrons used the library's subscriptions to the Books24×7, Knovel, or ASCE databases, which contain onscreen-only e-books. Usage statistics revealed high levels of interest in the e-book database. During the trial, 959 user sessions occurred, with 2,702 searches taking place, 694 e-books read onscreen, and 130 e-books checked out and downloaded to Adobe Digital Editions. Of the 32 respondents to a user satisfaction survey, 93.75% indicated that they would use e-books for their work or professional development; 39% found them somewhat easy or very easy to use; 63% read e-books onscreen; and 37% read from a portable e-book reader. Ninety percent of respondents had used other library full-text databases; 69% had purchased or received an e-book as a gift; and 40% had borrowed an e-book from another library. Research indicates that the EBSCO e-books database is a viable resource for Virginia DOT, provided that the proper content can be licensed and that adequate user education is provided.