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Buley Library , Southern Connecticut State University
October, 2003
"Electronic resources" encompasses 1) online products including, but not limited to, databases, journal collections, and other research tools such as encyclopedias, and CD-ROM databases, and 2) the library website.
The role of the Electronic Resources Coordinator is to coordinate the overall development and plan of the Buley Library web site, and coordinate the evaluation and acquisition of electronic resources for the Library. To make the acquisition process as efficient as possible, the Electronic Resources Coordinator should be informed of projects that may result in changes to the organization, access, or availability of electronic resources.
I. Online Products
A. Policies for Online Product Collection Development:
The purpose of acquiring electronic resources is to support instruction and research within the SCSU community. The goal of electronic resource collection development is to reach and maintain a balance between representation of all disciplines and the special needs of individual departments.
As CD-ROM products come up for renewal, they will be replaced with web-based equivalents.
Preference is given to web-based products over CD-ROMs because of their greater accessibility both on and off campus. Among products available on the web, products which accommodate IP authentication from any SCSU IP, including the proxy server for remote access, will be given preference over those requiring special client software on
PCs with static IPs, or username/password access, for the same reason.
Whenever possible, a trial will be arranged for evaluation of the product. Evaluation is primarily responsibility of the appropriate subject selector but all reference librarians should attempt to investigate products during trial periods.
Decisions to acquire, cancel, or transfer a product to a new vendor will be made by the Electronic Resources Coordinator in conjunction with Reference faculty, the Systems Librarian, appropriate subject selectors, and other appropriate Library faculty.
B. Procedures for Acquiring Online Databases:
Any Library faculty member may arrange for trial subscriptions for the purpose of evaluation, but the Electronic Resources Coordinator and Systems Librarian should be informed. Please forward the name, telephone number, and email address of the vendor representative to the Electronic Resources Coordinator and Systems Librarian early in
the process.
Library faculty who wish to deal directly with vendors should inquire about pricing options (FTE or SUs), accessibility (IP or username/password; can the vendor handle the proxy requirement), whether any full-text accessibility is linked to print subscriptions, the availability of technical support and training, and the availability of usage statistics. Other suggested criteria for evaluation may be found in the appendix at the end of this document.
The Electronic Resources Coordinator will solicit the opinions of Reference faculty, appropriate subject selectors, the Systems Librarian, and other appropriate Library faculty before ordering, canceling, or transferring databases to different vendors or formats.
The Electronic Resources Coordinator will consult with the appropriate subject selector(s) regarding upgrades to specific products.
The Electronic Resources Coordinator may convene a panel of Library faculty and staff to address special electronic resource issues.
The Electronic Resources Coordinator will submit a copy of database license agreements to the appropriate campus office for evaluation, deal with necessary changes to license agreements, provide copies of license agreements to the Systems Librarian, and deliver completed acquisition forms to the Director. The Electronic Resources Coordinator will handle problems in the acquisition process as they arise.
When new web-based products are acquired, the Electronic Resources Coordinator will notify the administrator of the proxy server of the name and URL of the product.
II: Buley Library Web Site
A. Policies for the Library Web Site:
The goal of the Library website is to provide access to the library's print and electronic resources, hours and other information.
B. Procedures for the Library Web Site:
Web pages created by Library faculty fall into two categories: official pages housed on the library directory and personal pages. The content and design of personal pages is the responsibility of the page author. Official pages should follow the design currently displayed on the library's website. All official pages must include:
The Electronic Resources Coordinator has sole responsibility for updating the following pages: main, deptstf.html, userguides.html, and both database pages (edbs.html and toedbs.html). The ERC will consult Reference faculty, the Systems Librarian, and other appropriate Library faculty before making major changes to these pages.
The Electronic Resources Coordinator will arrange for read/write permissions as needed, or direct Library faculty who to consult to set permissions on pages.
Library faculty who have created or updated content for web pages may format and upload their own pages or ask the Electronic Resources Coordinator to format and upload for them.
The Electronic Resources Coordinator is the liaison between the Library and Academic Computing with regard to the Library website.
Susan Clerc
Electronic Resources Coordinator
Buley Library
Southern Connecticut State University
Appendix
Suggested evaluation criteria for online database:
I. Content:
What subject does the database cover?
Who is the intended audience?
Is it comprehensive or selective (does it index/provide full-text cover-to-cover)?What years does it cover?
Is older material archived?
Does access roll (i.e. last 90 days)?
How does the product complement or overlap with databases currently available in the library?
Does it plug a gap in our online resource collection?
Does it support the curriculum?
Would the online version replace a CD-ROM subscription?
Do we currently receive a print version of the product?
If so, should we cancel the print subscription?
Is the product full-text?
If so, how are the images presented (ASCII, PDF, separate window?)
Are they easy to print, download, or e-mail?
If not, are many of the journals and other sources available in SCSU/CSU?
Are abstracts available?
Does the product allow links to CONSULS?
How often is it updated?
II. Interface:
Is the database easy to navigate?
Does it use an interface we already have (e.g. Ovid, First Search, etc.)
Does it have basic and advanced search modes?
Does it allow word and phrase searching, Boolean logic, truncation, natural language?
Does it use a search line or present a structured search form (Ovid v. First Search advanced)?
How does it rank returns (reverse chronology, relevancy)?
A re error messages useful and descriptive?
Is the response time reasonably fast?
Is online help available and user-friendly?
Does it allow downloading, printing, and e-mailing of records?
Can records be marked?
Can searching and printing be interrupted in the product (i.e. without turning off the printer or pc)?
Are the screens clear or cluttered?
Are the records viewable in more than one format (citation, abstract, full text)?
III. Other considerations:
Has the database been reviewed favorably?
How good is the documentation?
Is technical support available during all times the library is open?
Does the vendor gather statistics? If so, how are they made available to us?
How many users should we license?
Would the library need to purchase special hardware or load special software on our pcs to run the product?
(Potentially this includes both web browser plug-ins and special client software)
How is authentication handled? Username and password? IP authentication?
Can the product be accessed from any IP within SCSU's subnet, or will it be limited to just a few PCs with static IPs?
Is off-campus access permitted by faculty, staff, and students (assuming patrons are first
authenticated by SCSU)?
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