Old Habits in a New World? E-book management techniques at an academic library

As interest in the e-book market grows, both academic libraries and researchers strive to understand developing trends amongst patrons. The academic library is one venue where improvised measures in e-book collection management can freely abound. Recent studies have focused on establishing formalized management techniques. This study explores the e-book collection management techniques in use lens of Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory. Analysis revealed that library staff employ e-book collection management techniques that are both similar and dissimilar to those used in print book management. This study investigates both similarities and differences using Bourdieu’s field and habitus to enable explanation of relevant management choices. Analysis showed that librarians in both similar and different subject libraries employ both unique and complementary techniques to e-book collection management. Further inquiry shows possible connections between a librarian’s habitus and their subsequent approach to e-book management.Program: Masterprogram: Biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap, Digitala bibliotek och informationstjänste