[13126] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: netLibrary
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Cliff Glaviano)
Tue Mar 7 20:14:59 2000
Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2000 07:58:46 -0500
From: Cliff Glaviano <jglavia@BGNET.BGSU.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <38C02271.73BD91D3@dayton.lib.oh.us>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20000307075846.007ac8a0@popj.bgsu.edu>
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Hi Tim, All,
Personal opinion only: counter-offer netLibrary that you would like
to try their stuff, but can't/won't afford cataloging until you can assess
how well your public likes the product. If folks are interested in adding
the cataloging, I would suggest that some (real) assurance that the
cataloging is available for that _particular_ set of titles from OCLC
collection sets ... we do not yet have all the cataloging added for the
OhioLINK titles though that's in process ...
netLibrary is very creative in its marketing and has created some
initial interest in their product in the OhioLINK libraries by running ads
in student newspapers, placing handouts on and off campus, etc.
I am having some problems assessing how the OhioLINK titles are being
used locally, but expect that OhioLINK or netLibrary will have stats on
that fairly soon.
cg
At 03:37 PM 3/3/00 -0500, you wrote:
>netLibrary is using an interesting tactic for marketing its 1500 title
>"Public Library Collection." The are offering a free six month trial to
>the 100 largest US public libraries. Some of the titles are dated, but
>most are from respectable publishers.
>
>However, there is a catch. They require participants to add cataloging
>records to their online catalog as a part of the trial. They assume
>that your catalog has a web interface and 856:u click through support.
>
>Even though netLibrary proudly states in its marketing materials that
>records for these titles are available in OCLC, cataloging 1500 titles
>for a six month trial is probably a several thousand dollar investment
>for this "free" trial.
>
>I have some staff hear who are enthusiastic about this trial. I'm
>leery. I understand that their content is merely simple html versions
>of text files. netLibrary is apparently scanning the hard cover
>editions of the titles and using OCR to create their electronic versions
>text. I would have hoped that they would get machine-readable versions
>from the publisher. Simple HTML versions seem to be an inferior.
>
>I am curious as to what other think about this product in general and
>their "not-quite-free" trial in particular?
>
>Tim
>kambitsch@dayton.lib.oh.us
>
TNX
Cliff
Cliff Glaviano (419) 372-2107 (419) 372-7996 fax
Head, Technical Services jglavia@bgnet.bgsu.edu
BGSU Libraries
http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/
mailto:jglavia@bgnet.bgsu.edu
"Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever." -- worst analogies
