Partnerships in the Electronic Age" : The Sixth MCB/Library Link Workshop

Citation

Jones, R. (2001), "Partnerships in the Electronic Age" : The Sixth MCB/Library Link Workshop", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 18 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/lhtn.2001.23918cac.003

"Partnerships in the Electronic Age" : The Sixth MCB/Library Link Workshop

"Partnerships in the Electronic Age"The Sixth MCB/Library Link Workshop

Reported by Rachel Jones

Introduction

It is a rare opportunity indeed, when publishers and librarians can gather together in an open forum, and discuss the pressing issues affecting both of their professional worlds. And yet, MCB University Press has successfully provided such a forum since 1999, by hosting a workshop at each IFLA and ALA Midwinter Conference. The benefits of such an information sharing session are numerous for both constituencies, not the least of which is the strengthening of customer and consumer relationships with a candid and receptive publisher. Through these workshops, MCB University Press continues to strive for effective communication channels and improved synergies between libraries, librarians and publishers.

The stage for the workshop held on January 12, 2001, began with keynote speaker, Dr David F. Kohl, Dean and University Librarian at the University of Cincinnati. Dr Kohl has served for nine years in this capacity, as well as serving numerous leadership roles for the American Library Association.

Dr Kohl's remarks were germane to several of the discussion topics for this workshop. He provided an overview of the state-wide initiative that he spear headed with the Ohio university and college libraries, regarding collection development and budgetary implications for broader journal literature access. His paper and presentation, entitled, Rethinking Collection Development: Is Selection Still Appropriate?, is available at www.bibliopub.com

As Dr Kohl discussed the "OhioLink Dilemma", it became obvious that an innovative and "win-win" solution was established for both the Ohio libraries and the publishers. Dr Kohl's plan enabled the creation of a state-wide consortial buying arrangement with publishers, with pricing aggregated for all member's present print subscriptions. Each library continued to receive their ongoing print copies, but in addition they gained access to all the publisher's journals electronically. The libraries' "WIN" included expanded access to journal literature, created universal ownership, controlled escalating costs, and eliminated inter-library loan requests within Ohio. The publishers' "WIN" included a halt to journal title cancellation, increased overall revenue stream, established predictability and stability in the market and expanded access to their journals. Dr. Kohl also employed various metric models to assess patron usage, both at the student and faculty levels.

Dr Kohl's presentation certainly provided the appropriate grounding for the four discussion topics provided by MCB staff. His presentation stimulated thought provoking issues and concerns in the following four areas:

1. 1.

   "Pick and Mix" or "All You Can Eat" Purchasing Plans ­ Preferred Purchasing Options for Publisher Bundles.

2. 2.

   Reference Linking in a network environment ­ is SFX the solution?

3. 3.

   Usage Statistics ­ moving towards the definition of standards for usage statistics provision.

4. 4.

   Encouraging the use of electronic information resources ­ ideas for communicating the benefits to end-users.

Topic No. 1 ­ Pick and Mix vs All You can Eat

Publishers are divided in their approach regarding the provision for subscription to discounted bundles of their journal output. The "pick and mix" approach places limits on the journal titles eligible for discount, whereas the "All You Can Eat" approach bundles an entire journal publishing output into one big database, and offers these for purchase. Formal and informal discussions among librarians regarding the appropriateness of these models indicates that neither option is perfect, and patrons face consequences with both extremes.

"All You Can Eat" plans have been disdainfully referred to as "take it or leave it" plans because of the lack of choice and control librarians face in the decision process. However, librarians acknowledge the breadth and depth of journal access this purchasing plan provides, although usage statistics are needed to determine if the availability of titles is meeting the ultimate benefit to the patron bases.

Some of the key issues for discussion on this topic included the following:

A myriad of administrative considerations by individual institutions.

Encouragement of faculty support and participation in either purchasing arrangement.

Establishment of gateways that allow access points for various publishers.

Sign posting and educational tools for undergraduate (and faculty) patrons.

Address students' over-use of search-engines and incorporate education in the effective use of journal literature.

Topic No. 2 ­ Reference Linking in a Networked Library Environment ­ Is SFX the Solution?

Nowhere is knowledge management more critical than in today's libraries, where constant delivery and dissemination of vast amounts of disparate information resources is common place. The need for reference linking, integrating the library OPAC, indexing and abstracting services, Web-based resources, and multimedia resources is an important tool for effective delivery of library services.

Users need to be directed to the most appropriate copy of the resource needed and exposed to resources not initially considered. Libraries need to avoid duplication of effort and resources. The SFX system, now being offered by Ex Libris offers a viable solution to the problem of context-sensitive reference linking.

What do librarians think about SFX and what are the issues involved with providing context-sensitive reference linking?

High level of cooperation between Library and Information Services staff.

Time will tell a lot about the effectiveness of these systems.

Excellent control mechanism for librarians, with the majority of the work done by librarians, as they intuitively understand desired linkages. A real life example provided by librarians at Cal Tech indicated that implementation was relatively simple and involved two librarians.

Solicitation of feedback from users: many options for personalization and customization, and ease of use.

For publishers, requirement for open URL compatibility: single point of administration.

Encourage open URLs by advertising opportunities.

If SFX allows for this type of compatibility, libraries will choose it first.

Must be library friendly.

Publishers' links can be confusing; SFX controls the links separately.

Topic No. 3 ­ Usage Statistics ­ Moving Towards the Definition of Standards for Usage Statistics Provision

Although usage statistics have been produced by publishers and aggregators for quite some time, valid issues still exist for the effective gathering of data, the appropriate metrics employed to use the data and the usefulness and meaningfulness for the library. Technological enhancements that aid in the dissemination of resources have also added new considerations for the appropriate and targeted use of usage statistics. A recent White Paper on Electronic Journal Usage Statistics, authored by Judy Luther on the Council On Library and Information Resources, states that two key issues still need to be addressed:

1. 1.

   Producing Useful Data Capability to gather data Establishing standards (ICOLC standards) Comparable and reliable data

2. 2.

   Interpreting the Data Article downloads User flows Time on site Interpretation in isolation, or with publishers/aggregators

Dr Kohl's presentation particularly addressed these two remaining issues in his proposal and implementation for bulk journal purchasing for the OhioLink Libraries. Some additional considerations raised in discussion included:

There is a role for publishers to appropriately message the documentation, and explain statistics gathered.

Statistics at the journal level vs aggregated title, e-journals, data-bases.

Duplicate formats for the same titles.

Implications of enhanced links in data gathering, and provisioning for such data gathering.

Per view, per page, per document choices.

Readership changes.

The role of external interests.

Implications for cancellations, and budget reductions.

Multigenerational users, with different expectations.

Better licensing needed for e-content.

Manipulation of the vast amount of data; drowning in numbers; good data vs junk data.

Details of the data, including frequency considerations.

Need for links, like SFX, Crossfire, to full text.

Topic No. 4 ­ Encouraging the Use of Electronic Information Resources ­ Ideas for Communicating the benefits to End-Users

The age old dilemma of effective library utilization instruction, aka bibliograghic instruction, will never die, and publishers and libraries have much to lose or gain in the continual efforts to instruct users on the most efficient methods to their resources. Electronic resources make access easier to a certain extent, but more effort is needed to instruct users on the use and benefits of these resources.

Discussion in this group centered on the innovative ways in which libraries can encourage use of their electronic holdings:

Joint marketing efforts between libraries and publishers.

Departmental marketing.

User guides, tutorial linkages, Web-based instruction modules.

Links on class pages on the Web.

Connect publisher/vendor information back to the library ("Brought to you by").

Personalize announcements.

Notes on the stacks for online access.

Notes of online access in OPAC.

Notes on canceled print journals directing users to e-journals.

Inter-library loan requests filled by electronic versions

Conclusion

As the discussion groupings came together in the last half an hour to discuss topics, it became evident how each topic tied in together, with many user issues repeating themselves. What also became abundantly clear is that technology has not changed many of the challenges that libraries and librarians have faced for the last century.

Rachel Jones (jonesr@dsmo.com) is a law librarian at Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky Law Firm, New York.