Media is the plural form of the word medium. A medium is a way of communicating or transmitting information. So, media refers to all the ways in which we communicate information.
In libraries, there are two primary media we collect: print and electronic. The Internet has revolutionized access to information, including traditionally print-based resources like books and articles. Now, many printed materials are readily available in electronic formats.
Here's an updated overview of print and electronic media:
Medium
|
Advantages
|
Often Best For
|
Print i.e.
- Books,
- Newspapers,
- Magazines
|
- Usually goes through an editorial process for reliability
- May be accessed without a computer
- Not dependent on network connections or speeds
- Provides historical context
|
- Longer works such as books and book chapters
- Historical research
- Background information
|
Electronic / Digital i.e.
- eBooks,
- Journal Articles,
- Digital Newspapers and Magazines,
- Audio and Video fiels,
- etc.
|
- Information can be easily updated
- Often up-to-the-minute information
- May be keyword searchable
- May be accessed outside of the library
- Multiple users can can access the same information simultaneously
- Easily print, download, or manipulate information
|
- Shorter works such as articles
- Late-breaking news
- Numerical data that needs to be manipulated
|