The number of academic eBooks in university libraries is increasing. Reading digital
materials such as newspapers is valued in Hong Kong; however, students’ perceptions
of the value of reading academic eMaterials are not well known. In this study we
investigated 12 students’ use of academic eBooks on mobile readers in two ways. Six
students had brief introduction to eBooks and they reported their first impressions of
the technology. The other six students had a 12-week eBook reading period that was
closely monitored by the research team. The experiences from the two groups of
students generally affirmed that the technology has potential to enhance teaching and
learning in a university setting. However, the experiences (especially of the long-term
users) highlight a number of challenges that need to be addressed.