My apologies is this has been discussed, but I don't normally lurk on
lis-link. I searched the archives, and find no mention of it.
I recently came across an article claiming that a partnership between Ingenta
and Freeserve will allow free BIDS access to students .
My reactions to this are:
1) Will statistics on use in this manner be available, or will our ATHENS
stats become unreliable?
2) Does this suggest a trend away from the role of the library as information
broker for such services?
3) The promotion of this service is alarming. E.g. in Tips and Advice
Internet (21/1/00) the service is quoted as
"a major bonus for the whole student population" as "they will be able to
consult the BIDS database via their own computers and will no longer have to
make use of their university library's computer resources".
When was the last time access to BIDS was only available in the library? And
how is this different to ATHENS access via a personal username and password?
Without wishing to sound proprietorial, surely it is to the benefit of the
users that libraries remain identifiable as the source of provision,
expertise and support for electronic bibliographic services?
Simon
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Simon Bains
Assistant Librarian - Electronic Information
Library Information Services
City University
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
Tel: 0207 477 8000, ext: 4021
Direct: 0207 505 5637
Fax: 0207 477 8194
EMail: [log in to unmask]
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