Selecting and Evaluating Electronic Resources

Concurrent session presented by Jacintha Kompella, Curriculum Support Specialist, Health Sciences Library and Carol Tobin, Health of Reference, Davis Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Complexity of decision making groups/guidelines
- Structures within the library - cross-departmental
- Structures on campus
- Structures in a region/city/state/county
- Evolving policies for electronic materials
Strategies
- Collaborate
- Communicate
- Share resources
Content issues
- Standard tools for selection still evolving
- Currency and reliability/stability
- Quality
- Interface
- Backfiles and completeness
- Flexibility of use
Strategies
- Determine the most useful format:On-line, CD-ROM
- Does it allow for data manipulation?
- Ease of use and searching
- Acquire full version preview copies
- Beta test
Cost issues
- Print vs. electronic
- Ownership vs. access
- Free vs. fee
- Licensing
- Price flexibility
- Volatility
- Greater variety of associated and ongoing costs
Strategies
- negotiate
- educate
- demand
- put pressure through consortia
Technology Infrastructure
- Accessibility
- Hardware at the library and in our environment
- Operating systems and networking issues
- Output options
- Metering
- Support Issues
Strategies
- Provide widest possible access with limited resources
- Cater to lowest common denominator?
- Ask for Z39.50 compatible products
- Select products compatible with mainstream hardware and operating systems
- Monitor technology developments and industry standards
- Provide training/consultations
- Seek user feedback
- Get wired!

Comparisons between Traditional Collection Development Methods vs. Electronic

Traditional	Electronic
Definite collection development groups	Constantly evolving/changing, More stepping on toes Evaluate who else is this decision going to affect
Policies	Heuristics/evolving policies
Standard review tools available	Review tools evolving Comparative reviews and reviews based on use are rare
Fewer content analysis criteria	Testing is key
Complete the set attitude	Backfiles are a challenge
Stable process	Dynamic process-more feedback mechanisms available User expectations constantly increasing
Simple ordering process	Complex ordering and processing because of collaborations cost packaging cataloging
JUST IN CASE	JUST IN TIME - QUICK
Infrastructure included the library building, shelves, and staff	Technology issues add to the complexity

Bibliography for selecting and evaluating electronic resources.

Last Updated: April 1996