LIBRARY HOME | FIND BOOKS | FIND ARTICLES | SEARCH BY SUBJECT | LIBRARY SERVICES | SEARCH THE WEB | HELP

APPENDIX G.
Electronic Resources Collection Development

Policies:

"Electronic resources" encompasses online and CD-ROM databases.

The goals of acquiring electronic resources are to support instruction and research, and attempt to strike and maintain a balance between ensuring representation of all disciplines and the special needs of individual departments.

Preference will be given to web-based products over CD-ROMs because of their greater accessibility. Among products available via the web, products which accommodate IP authentication from any SCSU IP will be given preference over those requiring special client software on PCs with static IPs for the same reason. As currently-held CD-ROM databases reach renewal dates, they will be replaced with web versions if possible.

Whenever possible, a trial will be arranged for evaluation of the product. Evaluation is primarily the responsibility of the subject selector but all reference librarians should attempt to investigate products during trial periods.

Procedures:

Any librarian may arrange for trial subscriptions for the purpose of evaluation, but the Electronic Resources Coordinator and Systems Librarian should be notified.  Please forward the name as well as phone and email of any salesperson to the Electronic Resources Coordinator and Systems Librarian ASAP.

The Electronic Resources Coordinator will solicit the opinions of Reference Department Librarians, appropriate subject specialists, and the Systems Librarian before ordering new products.

The Electronic Resources Coordinator will submit a copy of licensing agreements to Carol Wallace, deal with necessary changes to licensing agreements, provide copies of licensing agreements to the Systems Librarian, and deliver completed acquisition forms to the Director.

Suggested evaluation criteria:

  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. FirstSearch advanced)?
• How does it rank returns (reverse chronology, relevancy)?
• Are 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)?

 Susan Clerc, Electronic Resources Coordinator