Impact of Digital Media

As we enter into the world of digital media and technology with such prolific developments
happening every moment of the day, it is hard to imagine a future without information
technology taking over every basic activity of our lives.

Information technology has certainly increased the availability and access to information. Vast
amount of reading resources are now easily available online. With increasing online reading
pattern development, people cannot ignore the advantages being reaped. However, many
scholars have claimed the apparent weaknesses associated to online reading and suggest that
they would rather still print the information and prefer a hard copy over a soft copy.

A pair of academic researchers Rho and Gedeon (2000) conducted a survey in order to
understand the behavioral pattern associated with online reading of academic articles. The
results reported were that usually the reader’s only offer a quick go-through to the screen,
whereas take a print out of the material to actually read.

Similarly, research scholar McKnight (1997) provided an argument that people even today after
all the technological advances, like to print the material that they don't feel like reading online.
He provided the basis that the PDF Format has encouraged this reading pattern amongst the
masses.

A questionnaire based academic research conducted by Liu (2005) used a different approach to
exploring the possible changes in the behavioral patterns of the readers. As it was a self-
reporting methodology to analyze the patterns of last 10 years, the study was steadily
dependent upon the readers' memory.

The questionnaire was constructed paying important attention to memory testing and analysis.
The research gathered the following results:

 83.2% respondents answered that more time on screen reading has increased over the
past 10 years.
 71.7% respondents contradicted the results mentioned above by saying that they would
still prefer to print out the material for thorough reading.

The research concluded that the participants have involved over time with statically swaying
their habits in terms of information revolution and entering the digital age.

Furthermore, another scholar Stebbins (2011) confirmed Liu's (2005) research by theorizing the
argument of the fact that it's highly distracting to read online. His studies further revealed that
readers tend to spend more time scrolling and quick scanning of the synopsis than enjoy an in-
depth reading session. The study compared online reading to reading print material and
suggested that:

 Online readers tend to weigh towards one time reading.

  Deep and consistent reading patterns were diminishing and selective reading patterns
were increasing.
 Highlighting notable texts and any such activity has long since seen not very popular
among the young generation today as they spend more time on screen reading.

However, even this research concluded that both of the reading patterns can go hand in hand to
deal with the vast variety of information available.

More recently, a research study conducted by Cumaoglu, Sacici and Torun (2013) stepped into
the world of EBooks and their usage versus the print material from the prospect of reading
patterns.

The scholars have presented the arguments that technology with its due advantages has still
negatively impacted the behavioral patterns of the readers' choices in reading, accessing and
using academic resources like notes and articles. This drastic change has allowed the readers
more reliable ways to gain access to information by retrieving and preserving data.

With the aim of the study in mind, 222 students were chosen from 36 Italian universities for
attaining the data. The research elaborated how the majority of these students preferred to read
online books. Whether it was for course consultation or general research, the students
presented the result that they would prefer to access data through various common means like
computers and easily accessible databases. PDF format was a high preference for the students
as it is easily available and customizable.

Future Role of Libraries

One does not need a scholarly opinion to quote the significance of books and libraries. Since
the first ever penmanship to be dated, every civilization has focused on the accountability of
their books and journal material.

One such view of a scholar Lone (2011) was that reading is that one royal activity undertaken
by the great leaders and high profile members of our society. One should not only promote
reading but also the attainment of knowledge and education as the pillars of a successful
society. These habits play a very important role in increasing the society's ability to expand their
intellect and wisdom.

The scholarly trio of Ahuja, Mishra and Goyal (2010) stated that libraries play a very important
role in creating effective reading habits in individuals. They suggested that fruitful results can be
achieved by planning and promoting libraries in local communities.

Technology has greatly affected the reading habits of people but one cannot deny the
improbable changes it has also brought. Therefore, librarianship should not only be promoted
but also upgraded to the recent standards where books and EBooks all coexist in a user friendly
environment. This will not only bring forth the awareness and access to new technology but
allow people to explore and expand new ways to attain information.
Similarly, the scholarly pair of Kacherki and Theombare (2010) suggested through their study
that this drastic change in information technology effecting the reading patterns of people,
should also accommodate ways where the library staff also learn new way and techniques to
indulge and introduce readers to new mediums of reading. Not only the librarians themselves
should be well equipped with digital skills but be able to help their readers too. The libraries
should accommodate the need of exclusive space for deep readers that would like to endorse
their interest in a proper book. And a separate cubicle or row of electronic mediums to provide
for the tech savvy needs.

More recently, Omeluzor et al. (2013) suggested through his study that the invention of ICT has
further supported the role of libraries. Libraries should be voted in favor of instead of arguing
that library as physical place has lost its need. ICT has assisted librarians throughout the world
to accept new technology and serve its users accordingly, fulfilling their constantly changing
needs.

In lieu of that, Wright (2014) mentioned the key changes brought in the three dominant areas of
libraries i.e. physical space, collection development and the librarians' work flow. He further
suggests that in order to survive in this fairly competitive and forever changing digital
environment; libraries should promote both their print and electronic materials and manage the
balance of both in the favor of reading patterns.