A study of internet book reviews and borrowing intention

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the effect of internet book reviews on reader borrowing intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used www.yumau.com, www.ptt.cc and the bulletin board system on www.lib.ntou.edu.tw to post announcements, soliciting 33 readers who had browsed internet book reviews to identify books to borrow. Then, using a content analytic method to analyze interview content, an investigation was conducted on the effect of internet book reviews, numbers of references and content of internet book reviews on reader borrowing intention.

Findings

These results revealed that numbers of references and content of internet book reviews play an important role in borrowing intention.

Practical implications

These results can provide librarians with a reference for promoting book‐borrowing activities. They can also provide internet bookstores with a reference for managing their book reviews.

Originality/value

Electronic word‐of‐mouth reviews have become an important guide to reader borrowing intention. The study investigates readers' thoughts on internet book reviews and their effects, and advances several management suggestions.

Citation

Kuei Huang, Y. and Yang, W.I. (2010), "A study of internet book reviews and borrowing intention", Library Review, Vol. 59 No. 7, pp. 512-521. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531011065109