Understanding and Measuring E-Book Packages: Print Purchasing Patterns and Book Usage

When libraries make the decision to transition from print to electronic books, it is often a zero-sum game; if the library is to license the electronic version of a title, it tends not to buy it in print. This study examines print purchase and usage patterns after a large e-book acquisition by the University of Toronto Libraries, when subject selectors had the option to continue to purchase the titles in print. Data on print purchasing patterns, print title circulation, and electronic book use was examined both at the aggregate and the subject level. The study adds evidence to the growing body of literature on the transition from print to e-books in academic libraries

Reviewing A&Is and Aggregators in a Large Research Library Collection

To facilitate discovery, libraries have traditionally subscribed to many specialized subject abstracting and indexing databases (A&Is), as well as aggregator packages with A&I function and full-text content. Library collection staff must continue to demonstrate effective and responsible stewardship of the library’s acquisitions budget by using evidence to inform collection development decisions. Using COUNTER statistics, title lists, the Gold Rush overlap review tool, and feedback from colleagues, review teams at University of Toronto Libraries analyzed a select list of A&Is and aggregators to confirm if subscription renewal is necessary. Involving staff from various departments resulted in a deeper understanding of database use and assisted in deciding not to renew. The review methodology will be used in future reviews, and analysis tools will be shared for future collection development decisions. Discontinuing subscriptions allows us to redirect funds for new resources

Does Format Matter? Reader Preferences in an Academic Library Context

Although many academic libraries have dramatically increased their e‐book acquisitions in recent years, questions linger about format preference. When a scholarly monograph is made available in both print and electronic formats, which format will users prefer? Does format even matter? At the University of Toronto Libraries, we analyzed usage data for scholarly monographs from three key university presses, covering thousands of titles over several years of publication. By comparing print and e‐book usage patterns of identical titles, our goal was to examine format preferences and determine if there are differences in usage across subject disciplines or publishers. Through this analysis, our aim is to question whether continued acquisition of the same content in multiple formats is necessary and desirable, especially in an era of rapid technological change, increased pressure on library acquisitions budgets, and diminishing physical storage space

Effects of selected socio-demographic characteristics on nutrition knowledge and eating behavior of elementary students in two provinces in China

Abstract Background National and international child health surveys have indicated an increase in childhood obesity in China. The increase has been attributed to a rising standard of living, increasing availability of unhealthy foods, and a lack of knowledge about healthy diet. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of selected socio-demographic characteristics on the BMI, nutrition knowledge, and eating behavior of elementary school children. Methods Multistage stratified cluster sampling was used. Information on demographics, nutrition knowledge, and eating behavior was gathered by means of questionnaires. The schools’ doctors provided the height and weight data. The study was set in one economically advantaged and one economically disadvantaged province in China. The participants were Grade 3 students, ages 8–10 years (N = 3922). Results A cluster analysis identified four socio-demographic variables distinguished by parental education and family living arrangement. A one-way ANOVA compared differences among the clusters in BMI, child nutrition knowledge, and child eating behavior. Students in the cluster with lowest parent education level had the lowest nutrition knowledge scores and eating behavior scores. There was no significant benefit from college education versus high school education of parents in the other three clusters. BMI was not affected by parent education level. Conclusion The nutrition status of elementary school age children will benefit most by increasing the general level of education for those adults who are presently least educated

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Concept-Based Computer Tutorial for OPAC Users

published or submitted for publicatio

Electronic Resource Management Lifecycle and Workflow at UTL

Do you wonder what happens behind the scenes to acquire and manage access to e-resources? Are you curious to know why some resources have multiple access points and some have various restrictions? Have you heard talk of the COUNTER standard and wish you knew what it was and how to use it? If so, we hope you'll join us for a presentation titled The eResources Lifecycle. This presentation will help you become familiar with the e-resource management workflow and will cover licensing, access, assessment and associated challenges

Global Excess Mortality during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Currently, reported COVID-19 deaths are inadequate to assess the impact of the pandemic on global excess mortality. All-cause excess mortality is a WHO-recommended index for assessing the death burden of COVID-19. However, the global excess mortality assessed by this index remains unclear. We aimed to assess the global excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for studies published in English between 1 January 2020, and 21 May 2022. Cross-sectional and cohort studies that reported data about excess mortality during the pandemic were included. Two researchers independently searched the published studies, extracted data, and assessed quality. The Mantel–Haenszel random-effects method was adopted to estimate pooled risk difference (RD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 79 countries from twenty studies were included. During the COVID-19 pandemic, of 2,228,109,318 individuals, 17,974,051 all-cause deaths were reported, and 15,498,145 deaths were expected. The pooled global excess mortality was 104.84 (95% CI 85.56–124.13) per 100,000. South America had the highest pooled excess mortality [134.02 (95% CI: 68.24–199.80) per 100,000], while Oceania had the lowest [−32.15 (95% CI: −60.53–−3.77) per 100,000]. Developing countries had higher excess mortality [135.80 (95% CI: 107.83–163.76) per 100,000] than developed countries [68.08 (95% CI: 42.61–93.55) per 100,000]. Lower middle-income countries [133.45 (95% CI: 75.10–191.81) per 100,000] and upper-middle-income countries [149.88 (110.35–189.38) per 100,000] had higher excess mortality than high-income countries [75.54 (95% CI: 53.44–97.64) per 100,000]. Males had higher excess mortality [130.10 (95% CI: 94.15–166.05) per 100,000] than females [102.16 (95% CI: 85.76–118.56) per 100,000]. The population aged ≥ 60 years had the highest excess mortality [781.74 (95% CI: 626.24–937.24) per 100,000]. Conclusions: The pooled global excess mortality was 104.84 deaths per 100,000, and the number of reported all-cause deaths was higher than expected deaths during the global COVID-19 pandemic. In South America, developing and middle-income countries, male populations, and individuals aged ≥ 60 years had a heavier excess mortality burden