From: Selene Hinojosa <gh14_at_swt.edu>
My institution is seriously considering switching or dropping some of our
database subscriptions in favor of a massive serial supplier's
products. When they said they were "picking" up other well known
databases, after some inquiry, they admitted that they had included all the
journals covered by those better known databases, but that they had not
purchased the indexing. Meaning that this major serial supplier was doing
their own indexing. Once word got out to our state consortia which this
company was "courting" actively to buy their products, which were much
cheaper than the "original" database, they started sending messages that
they were "improving" their indexing and search options. I do not know if
this is true and to what extent they have "improved."
My issue is, the reference dept. is seriously considering switching a major
and well known Biology index to the serial supplier's product. My
university has a new Ph.D. program in Aquatic Resources and this is the
only MAJOR database we have at the moment that covers the field. I feel
that switching to a "one size fits all" and cheaper product is not what is
needed for a Ph.D. program. In addition, I think it is going to be
difficult to prove to the dept. faculty that the new resource is "adequate"
for research at that level. I sincerely believe that the quality of the
indexing is an issue at graduate research levels, but how do I convince
them? We don't have the new product yet, so I can't do comparison
searches. Does anyone have any information or similar situations that can
help me make the case?
Thanks,
Selene Hinojosa
Gloria Selene Hinojosa
Collection Development Librarian
Alkek Library
Texas State University, San Marcos
Received on Mon Mar 08 2004 - 13:51:22 EST