Alison
We have done the same at York, and for the same reasons. Our CDROM
networking hardware needed replacing and we decided it was not
cost-effective to do that, and the software licence was also very costly for
the decreasing number of titles made available.
We have done the following with the titles previously on the CDROM network:
1. Moved to Web versions where possible, suitable and affordable.
2. Our Computing Service have made a few CDROMs available on the campus
network. These are titles which do not have restrictive licences. They are
also non-bibliographic, such as the Digital Domesday.
3. We have two standalone workstations for the CDROMs which are either not
available or are too expensive online, or which have only a small interest
group. Users borrow the CDROMs from our Lending Services desk to use on the
machines.
Please ask if you need more information.
Sue
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Sue Cumberpatch
Electronic Services Librarian
J.B.Morrell Library
University of York
YORK YO10 5DD, UK
Tel : +44 (0)1904 433891
Email : [log in to unmask]
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-----Original Message-----
From: UKEIG: the UK eInformation Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Alison McNab
Sent: 22 December 2004 18:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: The future of CD-ROM networks in academic libraries
At the University of Nottingham we are looking to phase out our CD-ROM
network in the next 15 months, and therefore seeking to migrate services to
the Web where possible. Although web subscriptions invariably seem to cost
slightly more than CD subscriptions, I suspect increasing numbers of
libraries may be prepared to pay this (provided it is not *too* much more)
if they can offset savings from no longer having to pay for CD-ROM
networking software/maintenance and staff time to support it.
I must confess that the driving force behind our situation at Nottingham is
the need to upgrade the networking software and our concerns about the time
required by support staff to keep legacy CD-ROMs functioning (often one-off
purchases or something we received free with print). However, this is
coupled with low usage of databases on the network (even though, where
possible, these can be launched from within MetaLib when on campus).
I would therefore be interested to hear from other academic libraries which
have recently discontinued their CD-ROM network or are thinking of doing so.
Alison
--
Alison McNab
Head of Academic Services
Research & Learning Resources Division
Information Services
The University of Nottingham
University Park
NOTTINGHAM NG7 2RD
Tel: 0115 846 7622
Fax: 0115 951 4558
Email: [log in to unmask]
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