Print vs. Electronic Reference Materials

I found the EPIC study at the start of this lesson an interesting snapshot of current university student research.  How things have changed since I was there!  So changed that now I can take an entire program on-line and never set foot in the library - hmmm . . . that is kind of ironic given that I am in a library program!  The data regarding students use of the physical library & print materials vs. access on-line was quite fascinating, making it clear that the electronic world is taking over in this area.  We need to ensure that students who leave the public school system are prepared for this or they will be at a disadvantage at university and in the world.

Having said this, students still need to know how to access information in print books as well.  They need to be able to find a word in a dictionary, use a table of contents and index, understand which volume of the encyclopedia to use and how to find what they are looking for.  If they don't, they will also be at a disadvantage.

I also found myself agreeing with many of the points listed as "disadvantages of electronic resources."  Many of these points have frustrated me - lack of authority, overwhelming amount of information, advertising, students surfing through without reading, access to inappropriate sites, too few computers, T-L time spent trouble-shooting computers.


Are those of us who support both print and electronic reference sources fighting a losing battle? 
I do not believe this to be a losing battle, I think it is an important battle - students need to know how to use both.  They need to know how to find the information they need, whether they have access to a computer or to a book.

For me, as a T-L, the most difficult aspect of the print form reference materials is the cost.  The cost for World Book Encyclopedia 2011 is $1020, $859 for online subscribers (my district does have an on-line subscription).  My school library budget this year was $1000 - I do not think there is any way to justify using my entire budget to purchase an encyclopaedia set that will be out of date in 5 years.  So, what to do?  I can not see ever buying an encyclopaedia set for the library.  I think focusing on some of the other types of reference sources that are less costly would be more reasonable - making sure that students have access to print dictionaries, atlases, subject references etc.  Getting students started with these print sources and then moving onto correct use of the electronic resources could be a good strategy to ensure students are comfortable in using type of reference material.


How do student preferences for electronic resources affect your purchasing?

Student preferences for electronic resources affect my purchasing only somewhat, because, as a teacher, I want to ensure that students are information literate.  Information literacy means they are able to access and find the information they need.  They must be able to do this using both print and electronic sources.  I think because students are used to using on-line sources, it is even more important that they see and use the print resources so they gain that skill as well.

This past week, I had my grade 4/5 classes doing a webquest when they were in the library.  All the instructions are clearly laid out, step by step, yet many students had a difficult time doing it.  They did not want to read, they started randomly clicking on links they saw.  I think by starting with a base in print resources, perhaps the students' ability to read and search out needed information may be increased.  The students just seemed to be rushing through without absorbing the information.  I think this is an artifact of our current reliance on electronic sources - students expect to instantly have the information they need, without needing to read and select the appropriate information.

Do I have a bias?
I do not think I have a bias towards print or electronic reference materials, I try to present students with all of the options we have available in the library.  That said, at this present time, there is little in the way of print materials.  Given my small library budget, I just have not made this a priority.  Using the district purchased online resources in addition to free sites available on-line has been more economical.  We do have subject resources in print format for each curricular area - more when there is a specific topic that teachers do research projects on.  As I progress through this course, I am hoping to gain more insight into the print reference materials that I should make a priority to purchase given my budgetary constraints in addition to discovering more reliable online sources to direct my students to.