Reference Books Bulletin: Is Print Reference Dead?

in ALA Annual 2007: Day 4: June 24: Is Print Ref Dead?

Extracts:

Reasons why print is dying:

• Catalog information for p-titles is limited to title in most cases
  e-ref is very browsable online--TOC, indexes, etc.


• Preferences of contemporary users who expect 24/7 access, searchability, full text delivery.


• P-content is invisible


• Print indexes are too hard to use


• MLS/MLIS students are not required to take reference. Most get out of school with only one (or fewer) ref classes


• Print is....print. E-resources offer interactivity and multimedia. Many resources are dynamic and frequently updated

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