Digital Dominates in College Libraries

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 12/12/18
laptop computer with books on screen

For the second year running, library collections in higher education now contain more digital items than physical. According to preliminary numbers issued by the Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics, of the 2.5 billion items in colleges and universities in 2017, 59 percent were digital — books, databases, media and serials — and 41 percent were physical. That's a boost on the virtual side from 53 percent in 2016 for the digital collection.

It's also a reversal from the two years prior. In 2014, for example, more than two-thirds of the collections (69 percent) were physical compared to 31 percent that were digital. And in 2015, electronic library collections made up 39 percent of the entirety compared to 61 percent of physical elements. Between 2014 and 2017, digital components nearly doubled their share of the total library collection, even as the total items within library collections grew year over year.

The annual report is based on Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data collected from every institution participating in Title IV federal student financial aid programs (such as Federal Pell Grants or Direct Stafford Loans) during that academic year.

physical vs electronic library collections

Sources: "Enrollment and Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 20XX"; and "Financial Statistics and Academic Libraries, Fiscal Year 20XX," from the National Center for Education Statistics.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • digital bookshelf displayed on a computer screen

    OverDrive, Ex Libris Integration Streamlines Discovery of Digital Content

    OverDrive, a provider of digital resources for schools and libraries, has announced an integration with library management provider Ex Libris that will allow academic institutions to discover the former's e-books and audiobooks within the Alma and Primo library services platforms.

  • Two shadowy figures sit at computers with glowing screens, surrounded by floating digital codes in a dark, high-tech environment

    Reports Note Increasing Threat of Nation-State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks

    A bevy of new cybersecurity reports point to the continuing problem of nation-state-sponsored threat actors. The primary culprits have long been Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which all show up in recently published reports from Microsoft, IBM, Tenable, and Fortinet.

  • minimalist bookcase filled with textbooks featuring vibrant, solid-colored spines with no text, and a prominent number "25" displayed on one of the shelves

    OpenStax Celebrates 25th Anniversary

    OpenStax is celebrating its 25th anniversary as 2024 comes to a close. The open educational resources initiative from Rice University has served almost 37 million students in 153 countries and saved students nearly $3 billion in course material costs since its launch in 1999.

  • Two figures, one male and one female, stand beside a transparent digital interface displaying AI symbols like neural networks, code, and a shield, against a clean blue gradient background.

    Report Makes Business Case for Responsible AI

    A new report commissioned by Microsoft and published last month by research firm IDC notes that 91% of organizations use AI tech and expect more than a 24% improvement in customer experience, business resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency due to AI in 2024.