Dear all,
Thought since it's a bright new week and nearly Easter I'd share with you a
couple of examples of how our lives are ruled by the mysterious subscription
number ...
Many of us are pleased to see that our print subscriptions have associated
online versions that are 'free' as long as we keep subscribing to the print
copies. The journals themselves often advertise this fact, building up the
hopes of our customers. We would expect, given that we are receiving copies
through the post, that the publisher knows we are subscribing and entitled
to the online access.
But no. We need to - activate the title. For which you need a subscription
number. Where is it? On the journal label. I don't know how many of us
work in close proximity to where the print journals arrive (at Leeds, five
different places), but suspect a number somewhat less than 1%? Or it is on
a letter, which has often arrived along with other bumph in the journal
itself, and has most likely been discarded by the check-in assistant who
didn't realise what it was.
Suppose we ask our subscription agent for the number (and I can imagine it
is even harder for them to track it down than it is for us, even though they
are clearly paying for the title on our behalf, and if the publisher is
sending an invoice, surely they know there is a valid subscription ...?) and
get it. We type it in where requested on the website.
It doesn't work. It is 'invalid', or more mysteriously, has 'already been
registered'. Really? Why can't I get in to the journal then? (Sometimes
it works. Not often and it is almost cause for celebration when it
happens.)
The above tirade was sparked off by two incidents this morning:
1 A journal required a licence to be accepted electronically. When I came
to type in the subscription number, it said it was already registered (I
wasn't trying to register, remember, I was only following instructions!). I
gave up.
2 We don't have access to a journal we are entitled to. I asked the
publisher why. They invited us to register our IP address on the site. For
this we need a sub number. Which they haven't given us.
I know others have this problem. I'd love to know why publishers are
determined to make life as hard for us as possible. You'd think they didn't
want us to access their journals. (And to be honest, if it wasn't for the
fact these journals are needed, and that's why we want to access them ...).
Any thoughts?
Louise
Louise Cole
Electronic Resources Team Leader
Health Sciences Library
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT
e-mail [log in to unmask]
tel 0113 343 5502
fax 0113 343 4381
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