Electronic Journals - the story so far (well a summary)
Judging by my replies 'Keep it Simple' e-journals do seem to be many a
librarian's Holy Grail, or Hol'e' Grail as one of my replies said - add that
to the library humour collection!
My criteria were:
* levelled at students on HN courses and those in the FE sector
* able to offer the staple journals suggested by exam boards
* full text
* good front end
* easy to search
* able to keep search results to a manageable number
* cheap
* able to pick, choose and remove which journals are included in the
package.
There are many seekers of this Holy Grail - I feel that if we could muster
ourselves into pressurising publishers and e-journal subscription agents we
could be a force to be reckoned with. Between us FE Librarians must spend
six to seven figure sums on journals every year. Any suggestions on the
next step?
If e-journals are your bag then [log in to unmask] is a pretty
good list to get on to.
The current favourite seems to be Gale Group's Infotrac which allows you to
select from an extensive (mainly American) database of journals; one
downside was that a large number appeared not to be full text. You can also
choose a modest number or several hundred and compared to some services it
isn't wildly expensive. Searching seems to be pretty straight forward.
World Magazine Bank from EBSCO supply full text journals from a number of
different publishers so you don't need to have a print subscription to the
titles (I didn't realise this might be an issue so there's another essential
added to my e-journal criteria). It is also apparently pitched at the right
level - FE (EBSCOHost is more suited to HE)
Everetts is about to launch a new product which they feel will make things
simpler for librarians. They are going to be using a third party interface
as the access point but how customisable this will be at the Library end
isn't known.
A couple of my replies were from e-journal companies claiming they had 'just
the thing' Everetts (International Library Suppliers & Subscription Agents)
and EBSCO Information Services - whether it is 'just the thing' remains to
be seen ... cost wasn't mentioned once. This is a summary of their sales'
pitch (upon which I couldn't possibly comment!):
Everetts (International Library Suppliers & Subscription Agents)have
recently signed an agreement to market an e-journals management system
called TDNet in the UK. I don't know how closely TDNet resembles your Holy
Grail, but it certainly seems to fit many of your criteria. We are launching
TDNet next week at the Online exhibition and I shall be pleased to
demonstrate the system to you if you are there at any time. Everetts stand
is number 254 in the Gallery.
Allow me to introduce myself...I am the keeper of the Holy Grail. EBSCO
Information Services have been working with schools and FE Colleges to
develop a UK based database full of magazines, journals, encyclopaedia,
newspapers, images, maps and company information for the KS3/KS4 and FE
Curricular. It is due to be launched at the BETT show at Olympia in January
and will be called the UK Reference Centre. It will comprise of journals
and magazines from the BBC, OUP, EMAP, Heinemann, etc. and is designed to
cover all academic subjects as well as vocational and leisure courses.
Contact information:
Infotrac
www.galegroup.com/world
Everetts
020 77318562
EBSCO Information Services
4th Floor,
Kingmaker House,
Barnet,
Herts
EN5 1NZ
020 84474200
If you want any more information do contact me.
Many thanks for all replies,
Gillian Rutherford
Learning Resource Centre Manager
North Tyneside College
Embleton Avenue
Wallsend
Tyne and Wear
NE28 9NJ
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