Subject: Database Trials
From: John Forsyth <jhforsy_at_bgnet.bgsu.edu>
Hi, Folks,
Our library has until now had the the practice of generally holding
database trials within the library and limiting the participants to
library faculty and staff. In particular, the possibility of a faculty
member(s) becoming enamored of a database and interpreting the
proffered trial as a guarantee of subscription on the library's part
has been a deterrent to our offering open trials.
We are considering the advantages of making database trials available
to university faculty. We would very much like to know your experience
with database trials. Especially useful would be your experience with
open trials; what are the advantages and what are the disadvantages?
Do you ever include students in open trials?
Another problem we have had with database trials is the great number
of trials. Database trials pop up at all times of the year. Librarians
and staff have difficulty accommodating them with the rest of their
workloads. Has anyone had success limiting trials to one or two trial
periods annually?
Please let me know your library's experience, if relevant, to offering
public trials of databases and handling the great number and
unpredictability of them.
Please reply to me and I will summarize for the list.
Many thanks,
John
John Forsyth
Bibliographer (Business & Languages)
University Libraries
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
(419) 372-7898
jhforsy_at_bgnet.bgsu.edu
Received on Wed Oct 10 2007 - 03:10:58 EDT