I haven't seen this raised on LIS-ERESOURCES yet either, so I will be interested in developments.
Here in Exeter, in general, we print off the SEDs and supply the print to our medical users.
We do have a couple of IT literate users who can cope with SEDs and the software required. In general, however, we've found that trying to supply SEDs directly to our users has not worked; we've had to re-request the item due to the very limited number of times you can open the document. A further difficulty for us in the NHS is that many IT departments frown on downloading/helping you download additional software (or there'd be dozens of forms to fill in before you were allowed it); although our Trust is very good and supportive this isn't always the case.
I think SED is a great example of technology being good in principle but less than practical in some work environments/with users less than 300% tech-savvy. We also found when Exeter Uni upped their firewall settings earlier this year that all of a sudden we stopped receiving SEDs as the filter was recognising them as spam (too many items from one address). (The uni IT department hadn't thought to let us know in advance!!)
I've always found the DRM issue particularly curious, both for SEDs and music downloads; when you buy a book in physical form, you've bought the book; you aren't limited to reading it twice. I'd like to think electronic information might some day catch up with physical information in terms of reliability, durability and flexibility, rather than just speed of delivery as now; but I don't hold out much hope.
Paula Younger
Electronic Resources Librarian
Exeter Health Library
Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Peninsula Medical School Building
Barrack Road
Exeter
EX2 5DW
Tel: 01392 406729
Fax: 01392 406728
Email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Sharrocks
Sent: 11 November 2008 12:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: SED and digital editions
Jane
Thanks so much for raising this. I wasn't aware of the specific notice you quote below, but we have been having discussions for some time over the issue of supplying students (and staff) with digital editions, in either SED or Ariel format, and the best way of advising requesters how to deal with these.
I know that some libraries do not forward the digital edition to users because of the potential problems of opening them, but print and supply the paper copy instead.
I would be interested in hearing what others have experienced and how they have solved the various issues involved.
Mike Sharrocks
Thames Valley University
-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Arthur, Jane
Sent: 11 November 2008 11:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: SED and digital editions
This is a rather specific query, but as I am not aware of a discussion list/forum for users of the BL SED service, I thought I would try the lis-link and see what happens..
We use the BL SED service and get journal article requests delivered directly to our users. This works fine, by and large, for our staff, who have their own dedicated workstations, and also for students accessing these at home or via own laptops. However, we have a real problem with our workstations in LRCs, where students log in with a 'roaming profile'
, because BL will be requiring all users of SEDs to use Adobe digital editions (instead of Adobe 7).
"From early 2009, the Digital Rights Management (DRM) software that provides the encryption for your SED documents will no longer be supported. From that time, Adobe Digital Editions will be required to receive SED documents. "
Our technical support has contacted an HE technical forum and received messages agreeing that this is a real problem (Bangor, Dundee, Napier, Lincoln and others), but I am just wondering why I have heard nothing from the libraries front. Is this an issue for colleagues, and if so, how are you handling it?
Pls pass this on to relevant colleagues - and apologies if this is of no interest to you! Thanks, Jane
Jane Arthur
Assistant Director
Learning & Information Services
University of Hertfordshire
College Lane
Hatfield
Herts
AL10 9AB
e: [log in to unmask]
t: 01707 285770
f: 01707 285768
|