iBooks - Effectively Evaluating Impact of eBooks for Extension Audiences

Printed materials are the traditional method of delivering topic-focused information to a broad audience, but as use of mobile devices has increased – use of these devices to reference information is commonplace. eBooks can be an effective resource in the Extension toolbox, facilitating delivery of text, graphical, and even video content. The Southern Nursery IPM (SNIPM) working group has created and published Extension materials as iBooks because the publishing interface is easy to use and facilitates integration of interactive content, while maintaining the capacity to create print versions of the content. Stakeholders are also familiar with the download interface, be it via iBooks or downloadable pdf files. Co-authors wrote three books; “IPM for Select Deciduous Trees in Southeastern US Nursery Production” and “IPM for Shrubs in Southeastern US Nursery Production: Volumes I and II”. To broaden availability of these resources beyond those with Apple devices, we released print and pdf versions of the books. For these Extension resources, pdf downloads have exceeded iBooks downloads [approximately 6:1 (trees and shrubs vol. I)]. Also interesting is the international impact of these resources, as downloads have occurred in 66 countries (tree book), in addition to downloads in the US. The economic value of these resources is more difficult to calculate, but when nursery growers and Extension personnel were surveyed, 63% said book content was very useful, with the remaining 37% indicating the content was useful. In addition, average value of information with regard to either increased savings or earnings was $3,313. We are working to further refine survey techniques so we gain added feedback on these resources.