Must Printed Books be a Thing of the Past in Academic Libraries?

The preferences of undergraduate and graduate students are examined for print and electronic resources including books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and comics, both in terms of leisure reading and reading undertaken for academic purposes. Concerns about e-book-only library collection policies are raised. Results are surprising given that libraries increasingly emphasize e-books and journals in lieu of print. The surveyed student prefer receiving content of perceived lasting value in the form of textbooks and other works in print form, but that when content is perceived as having short-term value only, such as matter appearing in newspapers, journal, and magazine articles, the digital format is seen as more apropos. Digital and print are still seen as having their respective advantages and disadvantages. It can be concluded that printed books should not be seen as “things of the past” in academic libraries.