-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Consumer Reports online? -- 2 messages
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 16:05:37 -0700
From: Mary Beth Burgoyne <Mary_Beth_Burgoyne@CI.MESA.AZ.US>
Below is a response I wrote explaining to frontline staff why Mesa (AZ)
Public Library was not able to take advantage of "free access" to
current
subscribers of products such as Consumer Reports, Value Line, Investor's
Business Daily, etc. It was frustrating for staff to deal with patrons
who
insisted that "free access" was available because the magazine said so
right on the cover and why couldn't we let the patron use it.
"Indeed, MPL is a subscriber and should therefore offer it to valid
library
card holders. Unfortunately, that's not how the print periodical
producers
see it, whether it be a magazine, newspaper or reference item.
1. Vendors issue "free access" with our paid print subscription. In
reality, that access is for a single user and is given via user ID and
password.
2. None of e-magazine, newspaper/journal vendors at this time are able
to
deal with IP recognition access
3. Vendor mindset for technology lags behind their current business
practices for print subscriptions. Even though print subscribers,
Investor's Business Daily, will sell to libraries their print edition,
knowing a multitude of readers will be using one subscription, they are
not
willing nor have the resources to offer access in a method that
reasonably
can be used in a public library setting.
4. We cannot publicize or publish the User IDs or Passwords.
When a high profile title offers e-access or when a selector has
requested
add'l information, I've called to ask if we could add the user ID and
password info to the DYNIX record or on our Web site, they are
horrified
at the question. With the info. available in these two avenues, staff
and
patrons could help themselves to the e-version via the Web, the same
way
they help themselves to the print edition found on your display shelves
or
in Periodicals. The vendors' do not want anyone beyond the single named
subscriber accessing their mag. online. In that case, the named
subscriber
is "Acquisition Services- MPL." (which of course is ridiculous because
there is no one by the name of Acquisition Services.)
5. If we violate their e-journal access intent, we are liable for use
infringement. Periodical publishers are VERY protective of whom has
access
to their electronic data. When we subscribe to a print
magazine/journal/newspaper, our subscription price is inflated to
include
Copyright Compliance Fees and Multiple Readership Use Fees. E-journals
are
too new to vendors to have those logistical issues worked out.
6. Aggregate services such as Ebsco Online is beginning to deal with the
above mentioned issues although this would be an additional subscription
with Ebsco, as we already do with regular print magazines and Ebsco
MasterFile. E-journals online is in essence another periodical
collection
requiring selection, deselection, DYNIX records etc.
7. EXCEPT for some key business things, such as Value Line, MorningStar
,
Investor's Business Daily and a handful of popular adult and JUV
titles,
the majority of e-journals are academic in nature and since we are
deselecting those anyway in print, it doesn't make sense at this time
expand to a service such as Ebsco Online. I don't see us really getting
into true e-journals access until the vendors reconcile their needs
with
current distribution technology and more popular interest/general
reading
periodicals provide IP recognition access.
8. Often, when e-access is offered as part of the paid print
subscription,
it is for "enhanced" services offered by the publisher. In the case of
business publications, this is the ability to create, maintain and store
personal portfolios, investment strategy reports, etc. pieces of
information unique to Patron A. If someone other than Patron A signs in
using the password and user ID, Patron A's personal information now can
be
read by Patron B, Patron C, modified, etc.
This is THE reason we haven't migrated to the web version of COIN or a
host
of other college/career and investment web-based subscription tools.
They
truly are set up to be used in a closed environment wherein personal
information such as SS#, name, address, household income, company stock
holdings, parent's names, academic history is stored on the vendor's
secured/unsecured server and retrieved only by THE person with the
unique
ID and password. The Library cannot assume liability for the
secured/unsecured nature of a non-City of Mesa server."
Mary Beth Burgoyne
Resource Development Coordinator, Reference, Serials and Electronic
Resources
Mesa Public Library
64 E. 1st Street
Mesa AZ 85201
480-644-3891
