Many thanks to everyone who responded to my recent email on
Alumni access to electronic resources. Below is a summary
of the responses I've received.
Seven institutions don't offer Alumni access on the grounds
of licence restrictions.
One extra institution stated that they do have an Alumni
membership scheme, though online access is not included.
One person knew of an institution allowing access to PCs
and information services for 6 months after graduation on
application only, however this could be abused by students
coming back to use the databases for commercial purposes -
the respondent's opinion in this case was to allow this
extra access for job-searching purposes only.
One institution is currently discussing walk-in access
possibilities and another notes that some licences allow a
certain number of walk-in users, but these are meant for
occasional use, therefore this can't be advertised as a
service. (Another respondent asked whether we should be
allowing non-members to occupy space/PCs meant for our
member's use anyway?)
One institution provides dedicated visitor PCs with web
access, a word processing programme and printing. Alumni
email accounts are also given. Licences are scrutinised for
access allowances but databases must all be consulted on
campus, as ATHENS ID's are not available for
visitors/alumni. Databases available for alumni on campus
use include: ASSIA, Econ Lit (via CDROM), Economist (via
CDROM), JSTOR, Zetoc
And those not available for alumni use include: ABI Inform,
WoS, Emerald, FAME, Ingenta Journals, Westlaw, Lexis
It seems that Business Source Premier and ABI are available
for off campus alumni use on payment of an additional fee
by the institution:
One institution offers walk in access to databases to
alumni where available and off campus access to Business
Source Premier - conditions for this are that access is
secure - ATHENS can't be used so another authentication
system would be needed.
One offers both Business Source Premier and ABI(Proquest)
off campus to alumni who join annually for a fee, plus
access to 11 databases on campus.
One is currently trialling ABI with a view to paying the
extra fee and allowing alumni access.
Only three responded about whether they charged alumni for
access: 1 doesn't charge; 1 makes an annual charge and 1
has been offered money by alumni to set up a service!
Thanks again to everyone who contacted me - you've provided
much food for thought!
Caroline Gale
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Caroline Gale
Acting Subject Librarian
Main Library
University of Exeter
Stocker Road
Exeter EX4 4PT
Tel: 01392 263884
Fax: 01392 263871
Email: [log in to unmask]
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