While I don't know any of the nitty gritty details, I do know that ProQuest offers a licensing option for alumni access on some of their resources. Of course, it costs money to get it. Here's some food for thought. Libraries have a long tradition of naming collections after donors, buildings after donors, placing name plates in books, etc...I see no good reason this can't extend into the e-resources arena someday (aside from the obvious complications of logistics and licensing). For example, it may or may not be easy to let users know that "x database is broguht to you by the generous support of the x foundation." I'm sure it can be done. I will admit though, that the cost might be eye-opening for many would-be donors. -- Chad Hutchens Electronic Resources Librarian University of Wyoming Libraries Dept 3334, 1000 E University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071-20000 Ph: (307) 766-5560 > From: Mitch Turitz <turitz@SFSU.EDU> > Reply-To: "SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum" > <SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU> > Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:54:26 -0700 > To: "SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum" <SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU> > Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Alumni access question > >> Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:59:56 -0700 >> To: Bill, Mitch Turitz <turitz@sfsu.edu> >> From: Mitch Turitz <turitz@sfsu.edu> >> Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Alumni access question >> >> Bill, >> >> Thank you for the e-mail. Since I do not do the negotiating with >> vendors for our contracts, I do not know if any vendors offer a >> discount rate for alumni. They may exist, but I have not dealt with >> any. Remember, the vendors are out to make money on this, and as it >> is they do not have to worry about storing X number of copies in >> warehouses or shipping, binding costs, etc. Since the vendors >> usually charge by "what the market will bear" the cost of your >> subscription will not only vary from vendor to vendor, but even from >> library to library for access to the same titles. >> >> My feeling is that the typical patron from the surrounding areas >> can either come into the library to use the facilities, or go to the >> public library to use their database access. The main purpose of a >> university is to teach, not to provide online access to everyone in >> the world. The public doesn't seem to realize that access to these >> databases cost us a lot of money (we spend over a million $ just for >> the electronic databases/journals each year. Once the student has >> graduated, he/she should not need access to the 200 databases we >> have online, just a few which are probably available through the >> library. I did hear of a case, over 10 years ago I think, where a >> lawyer hired a student to do his legal research for him on >> Lexis/Nexis. The lawyer should have been supplied access either >> through his employer, or if working for himself buy access directly >> through L/N himself and deduct it as an office expense. I think we >> and/or the vendors have in our standard agreement with the students >> words to the effect, saying they cannot use our databases for >> business or reselling or even sharing of the information on the >> databases. I think most of the vendors have these on the "click >> through" web pages that make you swear you will do everything they >> want in order to obtain access to the databases. If you don't agree >> with the "click through" agreement, then you are denied access. >> >> So my feeling is that people who want access to databases for >> their job, should pay for it, one way or another. If they want it >> for their personal use, the patrons should have sufficient access >> through public libraries or be able to purchase personal accounts >> directly from the vendor(s). >> >> Sorry for the long message. This is something our library has >> discussed over a number of years now, as well as meetings in ALA on >> the same topic. >> >> We have approximately 20-30,000 students & teachers here >> (headcount) who all have access to our databases. We have over >> 100,000 alumni. To make free access to all our alumni, we would >> have to spend significantly more on our databases. This year, >> considering the budget crisis in California, we will be lucky to >> receive the same amount of money for our collections as we did last >> year, not counting for inflation. >> >> Although that MAY be a marketing tool for the alumni association, >> for $1,000 per year, you would get an e-mail account and access to >> our wonderful databases. Of course at least half of that money would >> have to go to the library for the cost of additional users. Just an >> idea you could suggest to your alumni association the next time they >> ask you for money. >> >> -- Mitch >> >> >> At 12:45 PM -0400 8/15/08, Bill wrote: >>> Mitch: >>> >>> Your point below about alumni access is well stated. >>> >>> Do any or many vendors offer a discount rate for alumni, >>> to reach a fair balance between financial realities and >>> mandates for enhancing user services >>> >>> I attempted to use my own university library at Columbia >>> as an alumnus, and was not happy to be "locked out" >>> of the e-serials collection. >>> >>> Bill >>> >>> Bill >>> >>> >>> >>> Mitch Turitz wrote: >>> >>>> Connie, >>>> >>>> We (San Francisco State University) do not offer online access >>>> to alumni from off-campus. Anyone is free to come into our >>>> library and use the databases inside the library. That was already >>>> taken into account when we planned for the online access in our >>>> library. Our licenses are based on the number of users we have, >>>> and if we opened the access to alumni, you can be sure the vendors >>>> would want more $ for increasing our potential user base. And we >>>> are not even talking about the restrictions of some vendors as to >>>> how far away a user can be from the campus to access the database. >>>> That is not a limitation of hardware or software but of some >>>> vendors' imagination. >>>> >>>> My recommendation would be to direct the alumni to a public >>>> library to give him/her access to their databases. >>>> >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:39:02 -0500 >>>> From: Connie Foster >>>> <mailto:connie.foster@WKU.EDU><connie.foster@WKU.EDU> >>>> Subject: Alumni access question >>>> >>>> Do any of you license databases to include alumni, particularly >>>> internationally based alums? >>>> connie foster >>>> > > -- > _^_ _^_ > (___)-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ( ___ ) > | | | | > | | Mitch Turitz, Serials Librarian | | > | | San Francisco State University Library | | > | | voice: (415) 338-7883 | | > | | CFA: (415) 338-6232 | | > | | FAX: (415) 405-0394 | | > | | | | > (___)-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-==- ( ___ ) > V V > "The most important resource in any library goes home at night." > > -Tom Galante, at the "Transforming Your Staff" session during > ALA annual, June 2007, Washington, D.C.
