This research examines the integration of electronic book (e-book) technology within an
academic library. The University of Ottawa library is explored as a qualitative case study.
The perceptions of use and communication pertaining to e-book adoption from the
perspectives of students, faculty members, and librarians are combined with other
documentation to provide a comprehensive examination of the case. Rogers (1962; 2003)
Diffusion of Innovations provides the theoretical framework to guide the study and structure
its analysis. Main findings revealed the following: (1) participants preferred print books, (2)
inadequate communication occurred between students, faculty members, and librarians, and
(3) information literacy training initiatives were insufficiently standardized. This study
contributes to communication research by examining adoption of e-book technology and the
spread of ideas within a social environment. It also furthers Diffusion of Innovations by
confirming that even when individuals acknowledge advantages of a communication
technology, it is not necessarily adopted.