Some time ago I put out an email on lis-link asking whether any libraries already had a link to Amazon from somewhere within their web site, how it operated and so forth. My apologies for taking so long to provide the promised summary, I've been somewhat overtaken by events and POW here at Derby. Anyway, many thanks to those who did respond (very promptly, I might add).

Summary
I received about a dozen responses, with a few libraries already having links to Amazon, but most saying they were thinking about it and would be interested in anything I found out. One University looked into a similar arrangement with Blackwells but did not proceed as their Finance Dept was unhappy with the contract. Another respondent said they had qualms about the use of JANET for commercial purposes.

I also raised the matter with the NEYAL consortium of which we are members to ensure they were OK with such an arrangement, which they were.

One University already had a link from their main web site, this was arranged by their marketing department. The library in question plans to put in direct links from their OPAC.

The link below gives fuller details on the amazon site itself as to how the arrangement works.
     
http://associates.amazon.co.uk/gp/associates/join/main.html/203-1102030-5094364

Revenue back to the library comes from any orders placed as a result of people accessing Amazon through the link from Univ of XXXX web page, but specifically excludes orders being placed with Amazon for the library itself.

The link can include an Amazon Affiliate ID, whereby click-through sales from a given OPAC item page initially attracts a xx% kick-back if someone buys the book. To be eligible the customer must click through a special link from the web site of University xx, and make a purchase during the session. Kick back increases according to volume of sales but appears to top out at a % in single figures after sales in 5 figures, ie 10,000 plus. Payment is by quarterly direct debit to Univ bank account.

Libraries who responded to me had variable experience of how much kick back they received, ranging from very small (under £100) upwards.

We have not gone any further with this yet at Derby beyond my report back to staff here. Concerns have been raised about using OPAC or similar for what is regarded as a commercial purpose. Other concerns also raised by some libraries within NEYAL is the possibility of students searching OPAC for a particular title which their home library doesn't have, and then clicking through to Amazon to buy it without considering the possibility of placing an ILL request instead.

Hope this is of some use, sorry it took so long - and sorry the summary is rather long too!

regards
 

 
 


Valerie Wilkins
Academic Resources Manager
Learning & Information Services
University of Derby Learning Centre
Kedleston Road
Derby DE22 1GB
Phone : 01332 591283
Fax : 01332 622773