The impact of subscription electronic resources on selection decisions by media specialists and utilization practices by teachers and students in elementary library media centers

Media specialists' selection decisions for collection development determine the materials found in elementary library media centers and schools. Our study examined the extent to which subscription electronic resources (SERs) effect elementary media specialists' selection decisions. Subscription electronic resources also must be effectively utilized by teachers and students. Therefore, we also determined to what extent teachers and students effectively utilize SERs in elementary library media centers. Results indicated that SERs did not have a major effect on media specialists' selection decisions for other materials in elementary library media center collections. We also found that media specialists do not prioritize adding additional SERs with existing SERs. The SERs generally do not have a significant influence on the addition of many materials specifically designed to supplement the use of SERs or superseding other materials found in elementary library media centers. Findings also showed that although SERs support school curriculum, they are only marginally utilized by teachers and students.; Elementary library media centers were also found to have adequate technological hardware and support personnel for use of SERs. The results of this study provide a foundation for future research related to SERs impact on media specialists' selection decisions and on the effective utilization of SERs by teachers and students in library media centers.