In support of the Library's "Going
Digital" policy, we are actively acquiring Electronic Resources
whenever appropriate. Among these are online databases, e-journals,
e-books, and electronic government documents.
Cooperative collection
development:
- Collaborate with WALDO and other consortia to obtain the best
mix of Electronic resources at the most favorable term, in order to
best serve the Saint John's community.
Overlap with other Electronic
Resources
- Materials should not significantly duplicate the contents of
other database subscriptions. The Library must consider the
increase in coverage versus the costs incurred.
Community Served by Electronic
Resources
- Intellectual level of material and depth of coverage consistent
with the needs of St. John's undergraduates, graduate
students, faculty, and administration.
- Ease of search, and suitability of search methodology for an
academic environment.
Technical and Service
Concerns
- Vendor reputation and performance.
- Timeliness of updates.
- Compatibility with Library hardware and software.
- Remote access for authorized users both on and off
campus.
- Availability of various file formats, i.e. html, PDF, or Excel
(for statistical data)
- Interoperability with bibliographic utilities such as RefMan or
Endnotes.
- Support for collaborative learning.
- Ability to customize search or other session preferences, and
save information between sessions.
- Ability to save selected materials to storage devices and to
print selected materials.
- Restrictions (if any) on multiple users.
- Requirements for proprietary or special software, individual
accounts, or individual passwords.
- Ability to integrate with online Library catalog or other
databases. Ease of removal if subscription is cancelled.
- Copyright and licensing restrictions.
- Provisions for adding or removing individual items
as required to the subscription.
- Web usage statistics and reporting tools that conform to ICOLC
standards.
- Provisions for long term ownership of archival copies.
- Adequacy of online help or other documentation. Availability of
technical support.
- Need for staff assistance and training.
Relationship to Materials in Other
Formats
- Will Electronic Resources duplicate, replace or supplement
print sources?
- Do Electronic Resources reflect the excellence,
comprehensiveness, and authoritativeness expected of materials in
other formats?
- Are the same materials available electronically from
other aggregators or publishers?
The following Selection Criteria apply to
all formats, and should also be considered when evaluating
Electronic Resources
- Appropriateness for use in St. John's programs.
- Level of St. John's program in the subject area (doctoral,
graduate, or undergraduate).
- Currency and timeliness of the material.
- Format of the material, with emphasis on electronic formats
whenever appropriate.
- Lasting or scholarly value of the material.
- Author's qualifications and reputation.
- Authority and reputation of the publisher.
- High standards of quality in content, format, and/or literary
merit.
- Favorable review in a professional journal.
- Gaps in the collection in the subject area.
- Language.
- Appropriate format for subject area.
- Budgetary consideration and price.
- Access vs. ownership rights.