“[The Freedom of
Information Act is] the Taj Mahal of the Doctrine of Unanticipated
Consequences, the Sistine Chapel of Cost-Benefit Analysis
Ignored.” -- Antonin Scalia (American Supreme court justice , b.1936)
THE PRICE IS RIGHT(?) … Consider
Pay-per-View
Access to high quality information is expensive. For example, according to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Electronic Information Resources: An
Evaluation of the Middle East Technical University Library, in 2006
the Middle East Technical University spent over $500,000 on a subscription to
ScienceDirect. (Source: http://eprints.rclis.org/7889/2/HACER_BATI_PRESENTATION.pdf)
In 2012 Study of Subscription Prices for
Scholarly Society Journals, Kodi Tillery, Marketing Manager, Allen Press,
writes “We live in a time where library patrons want immediate access to even
more journal content, and libraries are searching for ways to meet these
demands with even tighter budgets. Thus, pay-per-view (PPV) or transactional
access may be the way of the future for some as an alternative to Big Deals.”
(Source: http://allenpress.com/system/files/pdfs/library/2012_AP_JPS.pdf)
For example, Trinity University’s Coates Library “embarked on a new program to
provide greater access to all articles in the journals made available through
Elsevier, a major publisher of periodicals in the sciences, psychology, and
business/economics. Rather than increasing our subscription base, we cancelled
all Elsevier print journals and instead offered “pay-per-view” from its
ScienceDirect platform. With this kind of service the library pays a $30 charge
for any Elsevier article and it is immediately available electronically.”
(Source: Journal Article Access Via a
Pay-Per-View Model: Report and recommendations from an academic leave, Spring
Semester 2010, http://digitalcommons.trinity.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=lib_faculty)
ScienceDirect is a full text database.
That is, when you identify an article you want to read, you can access
the full text of that article immediately, assuming your organization either
(a) subscribes or (b) has a pay-per-view option in place.
Equally important to serious researchers are the bibliographic databases. These typically offer only the bibliographic
information plus an abstract. In other
words, you will have to obtain the full text of any given article
elsewhere. More about obtaining such
articles in a future post.
The engineering database EI Compendex, available through ProQuest Dialog, is an
excellent example of a bibliographic database.
In the past, searchers of the Dialog databases had to have a Dialog
subscription. Recently, however,
ProQuest has initiated a pay-per-view option.
In Science/engineering bibliographic
databases’ future: collection development issues at the university of Maryland,
Nevenka Zdravkovska and Bob Kackley recommend that for bibliographic databases,
you might consider using only those vendors that offer PPV – Pay-per-view.
(Source: http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1905&context=iatul)
TIP: Keep PPV in mind when talking to vendors about access options to their
information products.
Visit www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com
for more useful tricks and tips.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Seriously? A Series of Tips on Setting Up a Research Library (Part 6)
“Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.” -- Groucho Marx (American Comedian, Actor and Singer,
1890-1977)
EVERYTHING’S NEGOTIABLE
Step four of this series is to negotiate contracts with database vendors. We are now at Step four. It is, possibly, the most difficult.
Price might seem to be the main negotiation point. Not so, according to Ingrid Mattson and Linda-Jean Schneider.
In Negotiating And Complying With Electronic Database License Agreements, they argue that “the actual “cost’’ in terms of dollars can be less important than obtaining terms and conditions with which you can comply.” Here is an excerpt from their article.
///////
Negotiating And Complying With Electronic Database License Agreements
Ingrid Mattson and Linda-Jean Schneider
But gaining an awareness of licensing concepts and securing access to scores of resources for the cheapest price possible are not necessarily the only end goals. Instead, getting “favorable” license terms (i.e., a great deal) is really only meaningful if your institution is able to comply with the license terms. Evaluating whether you can comply with license terms requires that you understand your patrons’ needs and expectations when using online databases.
Amazingly, the actual “cost’’ in terms of dollars can be less important than obtaining terms and conditions with which you can comply.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/spectrum/Archives/vol-17/No-4/license-agreements.pdf
///////
Read this article before entering into contract negotiation. I also recommend two other articles …
Negotiating and Analyzing Electronic License Agreements*
Duncan E. Alford
Law and Politics Librarian, Princeton University Library, Princeton University, Princeton, New
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/llj/LLJ-Archives/Vol-94/pub_llj_v94n04/2002-38.pdf
Principles for Licensing Electronic Resources
Revised by the Licensing Principles for Electronic Resources Special Committee
Approved by the AALL Executive Board, November 2004
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/Archived/Advocacy/AALL-Recommended-Guidelines/licensing-electronic-resources-052013.html
Visit www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com for more useful tips.
EVERYTHING’S NEGOTIABLE
Step four of this series is to negotiate contracts with database vendors. We are now at Step four. It is, possibly, the most difficult.
Price might seem to be the main negotiation point. Not so, according to Ingrid Mattson and Linda-Jean Schneider.
In Negotiating And Complying With Electronic Database License Agreements, they argue that “the actual “cost’’ in terms of dollars can be less important than obtaining terms and conditions with which you can comply.” Here is an excerpt from their article.
///////
Negotiating And Complying With Electronic Database License Agreements
Ingrid Mattson and Linda-Jean Schneider
But gaining an awareness of licensing concepts and securing access to scores of resources for the cheapest price possible are not necessarily the only end goals. Instead, getting “favorable” license terms (i.e., a great deal) is really only meaningful if your institution is able to comply with the license terms. Evaluating whether you can comply with license terms requires that you understand your patrons’ needs and expectations when using online databases.
Amazingly, the actual “cost’’ in terms of dollars can be less important than obtaining terms and conditions with which you can comply.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/spectrum/Archives/vol-17/No-4/license-agreements.pdf
///////
Read this article before entering into contract negotiation. I also recommend two other articles …
Negotiating and Analyzing Electronic License Agreements*
Duncan E. Alford
Law and Politics Librarian, Princeton University Library, Princeton University, Princeton, New
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/llj/LLJ-Archives/Vol-94/pub_llj_v94n04/2002-38.pdf
Principles for Licensing Electronic Resources
Revised by the Licensing Principles for Electronic Resources Special Committee
Approved by the AALL Executive Board, November 2004
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/Archived/Advocacy/AALL-Recommended-Guidelines/licensing-electronic-resources-052013.html
Visit www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com for more useful tips.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Seriously? A Series of Tips on Setting Up a Research Library (Part 5)
“All my life, I
always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific.” -- Lily Tomlin (American Actress and
Comedian. Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2003.b.1939)
TEST DRIVE
At some point in your quest for the right databases to support your research efforts, you will want to take them for a test drive. Nothing beats hands on experience with an information product to determine if it is right for you.
There are two easy ways to arrange this. The most obvious way is to contact each vendor and arrange meetings with their respective customer representatives. They will be glad to discuss whatever free trial options are available.
Another way is to attend a conference focusing on database vendors. A conference that I find to be both informative and fun is the Internet Librarian conference (http://www.infotoday.com/IL2014/) held each October in Monterey, California. By spending a day in the vendor exhibition area, you will be able to explore the features of multiple products in an extremely time efficient manner.
An added benefit is that you may well discover lesser known but very useful information products you had not been aware of.
TIP: Come prepared with specific examples of the type of search you and your colleagues might want to conduct.
Find more useful tips at: www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com
TEST DRIVE
At some point in your quest for the right databases to support your research efforts, you will want to take them for a test drive. Nothing beats hands on experience with an information product to determine if it is right for you.
There are two easy ways to arrange this. The most obvious way is to contact each vendor and arrange meetings with their respective customer representatives. They will be glad to discuss whatever free trial options are available.
Another way is to attend a conference focusing on database vendors. A conference that I find to be both informative and fun is the Internet Librarian conference (http://www.infotoday.com/IL2014/) held each October in Monterey, California. By spending a day in the vendor exhibition area, you will be able to explore the features of multiple products in an extremely time efficient manner.
An added benefit is that you may well discover lesser known but very useful information products you had not been aware of.
TIP: Come prepared with specific examples of the type of search you and your colleagues might want to conduct.
Find more useful tips at: www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Seriously? A Series of Tips on Setting Up a Research Library (Part 4)
“For NASA, space
is still a high priority.” -- Dan
Quayle(American 44th US Vice President under George Bush (1989-93). b.1947)
PRIORITIES
Part of the process of choosing the right databases involves strategic thinking. Some of the choices are obvious. If your research focuses on nanosensors, for example, the IEEE Xplore (http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/) database is an obvious choice.
Less obvious may be the choice of business oriented databases. For example, if you will be partnering with small, privately held businesses, you will want to find out a little more about them before entering into an agreement. Nothing beats the D&B (www.dnb.com) database for this task. Using it to explore a company’s payment history provides some insight into the company’s reliability in the financial arena.
Conversely, if you will be doing business with a large corporation, you might consider using a database like Hoover’s (www.hoovers.com). This is an excellent one stop source for a corporation’s finances, markets, and current news.
Then there are industry standards to consider. For anything petroleum related, the API standards (www.api.org) are an obvious choice.
For other standards, such as ASTM, ANSI, etc., as well as international standards, a convenient one stop source is the IHS site (http://global.ihs.com/standards.cfm).
The point is, to enable easy access to the information you need to do your work, you need to be clear in your own mind what information you need easy access to. You need a strategic plan.
But, I don’t need to tell you that, because you already have one … for your business. What I can say is, that your library should be an integral part of your organization’s strategic plan.
Visit www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com for more handy tips on satisfying your information needs.
PRIORITIES
Part of the process of choosing the right databases involves strategic thinking. Some of the choices are obvious. If your research focuses on nanosensors, for example, the IEEE Xplore (http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/) database is an obvious choice.
Less obvious may be the choice of business oriented databases. For example, if you will be partnering with small, privately held businesses, you will want to find out a little more about them before entering into an agreement. Nothing beats the D&B (www.dnb.com) database for this task. Using it to explore a company’s payment history provides some insight into the company’s reliability in the financial arena.
Conversely, if you will be doing business with a large corporation, you might consider using a database like Hoover’s (www.hoovers.com). This is an excellent one stop source for a corporation’s finances, markets, and current news.
Then there are industry standards to consider. For anything petroleum related, the API standards (www.api.org) are an obvious choice.
For other standards, such as ASTM, ANSI, etc., as well as international standards, a convenient one stop source is the IHS site (http://global.ihs.com/standards.cfm).
The point is, to enable easy access to the information you need to do your work, you need to be clear in your own mind what information you need easy access to. You need a strategic plan.
But, I don’t need to tell you that, because you already have one … for your business. What I can say is, that your library should be an integral part of your organization’s strategic plan.
Visit www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com for more handy tips on satisfying your information needs.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Seriously? A Series of Tips on Setting Up a Research Library (Part 3)
“I would like to take you seriously,
but to do so would be an affront to your intelligence.” -- George
Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize
for Literature, 1856-1950)
Picking the right databases to subscribe to is a critical part of the process of setting up a research library. Unfortunately, picking the right databases is about as easy as picking the right cell phone plan. In both cases, it would be great to compare apples to apples. In the real world, though, you have to be satisfied with comparing apples and oranges … and then deciding which fruit you like best.
Resources do exist which provide bits and pieces of information that can be helpful in making that decision. One of them is the Academic Database Assessment Tool, offered by the Center for Research Libraries Global Resources Network (http://adat.crl.edu/databases).
The tool enables you to compare the overlap of journal coverage between selected databases. For example, suppose you were interested in subscribing to Compendex, GEOREF, and Inspec. Using the tool, you will find the following …
COMPENDEX
Compendex is a comprehensive bibliographic database of engineering research, containing over 10 million records taken from over 5,000 engineering journals, conferences, and technical reports.
The broad subject areas of engineering and applied science are comprehensively represented. Coverage includes nuclear technology, bioengineering, transportation, chemical and process engineering, light and optical technology, agricultural engineering and food technology, computers and data processing, applied physics, electronics and communications, control, civil, mechanical, materials, petroleum, aerospace and automotive engineering as well as narrower subtopics within all these and other major engineering fields.
GEOBASE
GeoBase provides comprehensive bibliographic data in the areas of human and physical geography, geology, geomechanics, ecology, international development, and oceanography.
•Geology - Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic Geology, Stratigraphy, Palaeontology, Geophysics, Environmental Geology, Economic Geology and Energy Sources
•Geomechanics - Rock and Soil Mechanics, Hydrogeology, Dams and tunnels, Earthquake Engineering, Site Investigation, Risk analysis, Waste disposal
•Oceanography - Physical Oceanography, Marine Geology, Marine Meteorology, Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Pollution and Environment
•Physical Geography - Meteorology and climatology, GIS, Mapping, Remote Sensing, The Quaternary, Hydrology, Soil science, Global Change, Environmental Pollution, Geomorphology and Sedimentology
•Human Geography - Environmental resources, Demography, Culture, Politics, Rural and Urban studies, National, Regional and Community Planning, Environmental Planning, Trade and Development, Agriculture, Industry, Transport, Tourism, Historical Geography
•International Development - Environment, Agriculture, Natural resources, Economic reform, Investment, Industry, Demography, Urbanisation and Housing, Health and Food, Education, Poverty, Gender, Culture, Aid, Trade, International relations, Politics
•Ecology - Terrestrial Ecology, Aquatic Ecology (Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater), Microbial Ecology, Conservation, Applied Ecology (including Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Pests/Diseases and Pollution), Evolution and Palaeoecology
INSPEC
Inspec is the leading English language bibliographic information service providing access to the World's scientific & technical literature in physics, electrical engineering, electronics, communications, control engineering, computing, information technology, manufacturing, production and mechanical engineering.
Using the tool on each of these databases, you find the following …
So, if your budget can accommodate two, but not all three, of the databases, you have a little bit of information to help you prioritize your choices.
Find more useful tips at: www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com
Picking the right databases to subscribe to is a critical part of the process of setting up a research library. Unfortunately, picking the right databases is about as easy as picking the right cell phone plan. In both cases, it would be great to compare apples to apples. In the real world, though, you have to be satisfied with comparing apples and oranges … and then deciding which fruit you like best.
Resources do exist which provide bits and pieces of information that can be helpful in making that decision. One of them is the Academic Database Assessment Tool, offered by the Center for Research Libraries Global Resources Network (http://adat.crl.edu/databases).
The tool enables you to compare the overlap of journal coverage between selected databases. For example, suppose you were interested in subscribing to Compendex, GEOREF, and Inspec. Using the tool, you will find the following …
COMPENDEX
Compendex is a comprehensive bibliographic database of engineering research, containing over 10 million records taken from over 5,000 engineering journals, conferences, and technical reports.
The broad subject areas of engineering and applied science are comprehensively represented. Coverage includes nuclear technology, bioengineering, transportation, chemical and process engineering, light and optical technology, agricultural engineering and food technology, computers and data processing, applied physics, electronics and communications, control, civil, mechanical, materials, petroleum, aerospace and automotive engineering as well as narrower subtopics within all these and other major engineering fields.
GEOBASE
GeoBase provides comprehensive bibliographic data in the areas of human and physical geography, geology, geomechanics, ecology, international development, and oceanography.
•Geology - Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic Geology, Stratigraphy, Palaeontology, Geophysics, Environmental Geology, Economic Geology and Energy Sources
•Geomechanics - Rock and Soil Mechanics, Hydrogeology, Dams and tunnels, Earthquake Engineering, Site Investigation, Risk analysis, Waste disposal
•Oceanography - Physical Oceanography, Marine Geology, Marine Meteorology, Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Pollution and Environment
•Physical Geography - Meteorology and climatology, GIS, Mapping, Remote Sensing, The Quaternary, Hydrology, Soil science, Global Change, Environmental Pollution, Geomorphology and Sedimentology
•Human Geography - Environmental resources, Demography, Culture, Politics, Rural and Urban studies, National, Regional and Community Planning, Environmental Planning, Trade and Development, Agriculture, Industry, Transport, Tourism, Historical Geography
•International Development - Environment, Agriculture, Natural resources, Economic reform, Investment, Industry, Demography, Urbanisation and Housing, Health and Food, Education, Poverty, Gender, Culture, Aid, Trade, International relations, Politics
•Ecology - Terrestrial Ecology, Aquatic Ecology (Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater), Microbial Ecology, Conservation, Applied Ecology (including Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Pests/Diseases and Pollution), Evolution and Palaeoecology
INSPEC
Inspec is the leading English language bibliographic information service providing access to the World's scientific & technical literature in physics, electrical engineering, electronics, communications, control engineering, computing, information technology, manufacturing, production and mechanical engineering.
Using the tool on each of these databases, you find the following …
Overlap Titles
|
Unique Titles
|
Total Titles
|
|
Compendex
|
375
|
3235
|
3610
|
GEOBASE
|
375
|
1826
|
2210
|
Overlap Titles
|
Unique Titles
|
Total Titles
|
|
Compendex
|
2086
|
1524
|
3610
|
Inspec
|
2086
|
2662
|
4748
|
Overlap Titles
|
Unique Titles
|
Total Titles
|
|
GEOBASE
|
241
|
1960
|
2201
|
Inspec
|
241
|
4507
|
4748
|
So, if your budget can accommodate two, but not all three, of the databases, you have a little bit of information to help you prioritize your choices.
Find more useful tips at: www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com
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