I am just wondering how many of you are subscribing to the new product by
IEEE called the IEL, a CDROM image database of the IEEE and IEE publications.

The IEL replaces IPO which was produced by UMI.

How do you feel about the leasing the product?  With the IPO, customers
were allowed to keep the discs after three years of consecutive
subscription.  But with the IEL, it is a lease product which we have to
pay between US$17,000 to US$37,000 depending on whether you have
subscription to the various packages for the hardcopies and return
everything on termination of subscription.

Personally, I feel that if we had to pay so much for something and not
get to keep it after X number of years, it is such a waste of funds.  On
the other hand, if you want your patrons to have access to this wonderful
database, then you may have to let that take precedence.

If anyone had had this tussle over whether to renew or subscribe to IEL I
would like to hear your views please.

Thank you.

Mrs Lee Cheng Ean                         Tel: (065)-772-2035
Head, Serials Department                  Fax: (065)-777-3571
Central Library                           Email: clbleece@nus.sg
National University of Singapore
10 Kent Ridge Crescent
Singapore 119260