Time and Technology: A Decade-Long Look at Humanists’ Use of Electronic Information Technology

Abstract

A ten-year study of a group of humanists reveals that temporal factors had a significant impact on their adoption of electronic information technology. This article identifies and describes four types of time that influence humanists’ behavior. Three are types of time spent: anticipated startup time, actual start-up time, and use time; the fourth is time of life, that is, the stage of a scholar’s project or career. Because the content of electronic resources is closely related to use of time, this article also discusses how content affects whether a scholar adopts an electronic resource. Librarians who are sensitive to humanists’ temporal considerations can better help them utilize technology.