[13205] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: netLibrary
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sunio , Maria V.)
Thu Mar 23 21:15:59 2000
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Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 15:31:26 -0500
From: "Sunio , Maria V." <msunio@QUEENSLIBRARY.ORG>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
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As I understood it, the default checkout is 24 hours, but libraries can
extend or shorten this checkout limit for private netLibrary collections.
If it is a shared netLibrary collection (such as those being offered to
libraries in partnership with PALINET and NYLINK), then the library must use
the checkout period agreed upon by the other libraries using the shared
collection. I am not certain whether libraries can have different checkout
periods for different types of works -- it will be interesting to see what
happens when netLibrary expands its collection to include fiction. I was
told that 24 hours is the most popular time limit imposed by libraries using
netlibrary, which makes sense to me since most of netLibrary's titles are
academic works. Libraries can loan netLibrary titles that would normally be
kept as reference works without worries that the pages may be irreparably
highlighted or torn out.
I would be interested in hearing from other libraries that have worked with
e-books distributors other than netLibrary, especially those that deal in
fiction.
Maria
Maria V. Sunio <msunio@queenslibrary.org>
DRA/Library Applications Coordinator
Information Technology and Systems
Queens Borough Public Library
v: 718.990.8542
f: 718.657.5899
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark T. Bay [mailto:MBay@UH.EDU]
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2000 10:20 PM
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Subject: Re: netLibrary
OK, here's a technical issue relating to netLibrary that concerns me: the
default checkout is 24 hours. If you are looking up some quick facts, OK.
But, how do you deal with this when trying to read a novel? I am a pretty
voracious reader, but 24 hours for, say, a Zola novel or Don Quixote?
Print works better for that. I, and millions of other people, spend 6+
hours a day looking at a computer screen. I for one would NOT want to
stare at one in my off hours to read a book.
Call me old-fashioned, but I have to think there's a place for print, and
it will remain popular, way into the future.
Mark
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***
Murphy's Law:
If anything can go wrong, it will.
Kohn's Corrollary to Murphy's Law:
Two wrongs are only the beginning.
Mark T. Bay
Education / Social Sciences Librarian
M.D. Anderson Library
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-2091
(713)743-9767
mbay@bayou.uh.edu
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