Time and technology: a decade-long look at humanists' use of electronic information technology

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 start-up 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 it is closely related to use of time, this article also discusses how content of electronic resources that a scholar might use affects adoption of electronic information technology. Librarians who are sensitive to humanists’ temporal considerations can better help them utilize technology.