Electronic Journals:Move over, books are back
Shannon Walls
Issue date: 7/19/01 Section: News
The Internet is a growing source of research for students. Information that can be found in books can also be found on the Web.
Some say the use of Internet sources may quickly be outnumbering the use of textbooks and periodicals.
Thomas Atwood, executive director, Maag Library, said items such as e-books and digital media are used more and more every semester at YSU.
"I think our strength is our electronic journals," said Atwood.
Electronic journals can be accessed from home, are in full text and are equivalent to hard copy, according to Atwood.
He also said electronic journals are useful because they require no binding, more than one student can use them at one time and they do not take up storage space in the library building.
Although the general use of online sources verses textbooks is high, YSU has been experiencing a decrease in Internet use.
Among college campuses, the use of online research sources at YSU is low despite the fact that many prefer the use of the Web, said Bob Ault, microforms/assistant serials librarian.
“[The use of online sources] is definitely on the down trend,” said Ault.
Ault said he is unsure of the reasons for the decrease.
Jean Romeo, reference librarian, said, students have access to a collection of more than 100 databases and periodical abstracts besides electronic journals.
However, Romeo said it is difficult to say if more students use online sources for research rather than using books and periodicals. The availability of databases affects the number of books checked out of the library, she said.
According to Romeo, it is important for students to try as many databases and Web sites as they can and evaluate them by the references and links they give.
"Information comes from everywhere, and nothing says it is good or bad," she said. "We tend to go to computers first. The world of information is in flux, and it can be hard to sort it out.”
Some say the use of Internet sources may quickly be outnumbering the use of textbooks and periodicals.
Thomas Atwood, executive director, Maag Library, said items such as e-books and digital media are used more and more every semester at YSU.
"I think our strength is our electronic journals," said Atwood.
Electronic journals can be accessed from home, are in full text and are equivalent to hard copy, according to Atwood.
He also said electronic journals are useful because they require no binding, more than one student can use them at one time and they do not take up storage space in the library building.
Although the general use of online sources verses textbooks is high, YSU has been experiencing a decrease in Internet use.
Among college campuses, the use of online research sources at YSU is low despite the fact that many prefer the use of the Web, said Bob Ault, microforms/assistant serials librarian.
“[The use of online sources] is definitely on the down trend,” said Ault.
Ault said he is unsure of the reasons for the decrease.
Jean Romeo, reference librarian, said, students have access to a collection of more than 100 databases and periodical abstracts besides electronic journals.
However, Romeo said it is difficult to say if more students use online sources for research rather than using books and periodicals. The availability of databases affects the number of books checked out of the library, she said.
According to Romeo, it is important for students to try as many databases and Web sites as they can and evaluate them by the references and links they give.
"Information comes from everywhere, and nothing says it is good or bad," she said. "We tend to go to computers first. The world of information is in flux, and it can be hard to sort it out.”
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