As a producer of an A&I database, I would like to mention an investigation we carried out recently.
We looked at the degree of overlap between our bibliographic database and the web, focusing on what could be found, and how easy it was to find it.
For scholarly publications and industry-specific publications in our particular area of interest, we very easily showed that our database let people quickly and easily locate things that are not available by using common web search tools (e.g. Google Scholar). Only one area of industrial application got close to 50% overlap with the web and most were well below that.
Whilst I agree that usage of A&I databases has declined a lot, those who do not use them risk missing things.
--
Sheila Thomas BA MCLIP MWeldI MBCS
Weldasearch Manager
TWI Ltd, Granta Park, CB21 6AL, UK
www.weldasearch.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: An informal open list set up by UKSG - Connecting the Information
> Community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Taylor,
> Sarah
> Sent: 01 July 2014 10:42
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [lis-e-resources] Retaining A and I databases
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> Vaguely e-resource related but hopefully someone can help me. I'm
> currently working my way through the renewal of one of our A and I
> databases bundles, and am struggling to decide whether to keep the level of
> coverage we currently enjoy, reduce/alter the coverage due to the changed
> offering of the provider, or cancel completely. Our usage is hard to monitor
> due to some oddities in the way in which the provider gathers statistics, but
> when I look at abstract views, some of the databases appear to be very
> poorly used. I've often had colleagues inform me that "no-one uses A and I
> databases anymore", but I can guarantee that if I do reduce coverage or
> even cancel there will be an outcry.
>
>
>
> Has anyone done anything like take a decision to cancel A and I databases
> and replace with more full-text? Or perhaps just cancel the database? How
> has the decision been received?
>
>
>
> Any insights would be greatly appreciated (before I lose my mind on this one
> entirely!).
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
>
> Sarah
>
>
>
>
>
> Sarah Taylor
>
> Electronic Resources Librarian
>
> The Peter Marsh Library
>
> University of Bolton
>
> Deane Road
>
> Bolton
>
> BL3 5AB
>
>
>
> 01204 903099
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Please note that my normal working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and
> Thursdays
>
>
>
>
> lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org UKSG groups also
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