aggregators

["Lisa Dittrich" <lisa@jbmr.org>]

I'm trying again to get a sense of how the librarian community 
feels about the different content providers they work with. 
I've read through various comments on the list archives and there 
is good information there, but I'm not sure how much of it is 
still relevant (e.g., exclusivity deals w/aggregators).

FYI, our journal offers IP-address-based licenses to 
institutions, no off-site access.  We are currently in none of 
the aggregator databases such those provide by Ovid, Swets, or 
Ebsco.

As publications director, I want to maximize reach and, by way of 
reach, revenue, so I want to offer options for librarians that 
are user-friendly, cost-effective, and manageable by both my 
office and the subscribing institution.  As I look at what's out 
there, I see some pretty complex arrangements (in terms of 
bundling, restrictions on range of content use, etc.) and my 
instinct would be the old KISS model, but I also recognize that 
these are complex days in the world of both publishers and 
librarians.

I also understand there really is no Librarian Community-I'm sure 
opinions vary widely.  But I'm guessing some general "truths" 
will emerge, however, albeit subject to changing over time-e.g., 
we have nothing but trouble working with X aggregator, or 
Carnegie Classification systems are fabulous, etc.

Also, if you work with JBMR and have feelings about our current 
structure, feel free to air them with me off-line.

I apologize if my question seems very "basic."  Honestly, I try 
to keep up with this list and other publications on OA, 
subscription models, etc.-that may be the very reason I'm feeling 
a bit at sea as I try to evaluate what JBMR might do in the 
future!

P.S.  Please don't say "just go OA!"  I'm not trying to shut down
debate, but I need a different kind of information right now.

Lisa Dittrich
Director of Publications
ASBMR Publications
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral
Metabolism

3209 Guess Road, Suite 201
Durham, NC 27705
USA
919-620-0681 (phone)
919-620-8465 (fax)
<http://www.jbmronline.org/>