| |
I. INTRODUCTION
The AHS Library's current collection development policy
governing the funding, selection, acquisition, and retention of library materials and information resources applies to all
formats including electronic resources.
When possible, the Library will give priority to the acquisition of
electronic resources that offer significant added-value such as uniqueness
of information, ease of use, wider accessibility, timely updates and cost-effectiveness.
Partnerships in cooperative acquisitions and cost sharing, both within
and outside the University community, e.g., University campus units, other
academic and public libraries in Arizona, consortia such as AZHIN, etc.,
should be pursued when feasible.
II. PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY
A. To offer library users electronic resources relevant to the
mission of the Library.
- To provide access to information resources that will support the
instructional, research, and patient care goals of the Arizona Health
Sciences Center, including the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and
Pharmacy, and the School of Health Professions, and the University
Medical Center.
- To provide access to information resources to health care providers
and others with health information needs throughout Arizona.
- To provide access to those resources and to organize and maintain
the information in a meaningful manner to fulfill users' needs.
B. To provide access to those resources and to organize and maintain the
information in a meaningful manner to fulfill users' needs.
III. SCOPE
A. Format and Access
- CD-ROMs
- Laser discs and other multimedia resources
- Internet and Intranet and remote access databases
- Online services, cooperative/consortium arrangements
- Other technologies that may evolve
B. Content
This policy does not cover general-purpose applications, bibliographic
management programs and any resources exclusively for staff use.
IV. SELECTION CRITERIA
- Meet user needs
- Subject relevancy
- Cost considerations: Cost-effectiveness, including availability and
cost of updates, backfiles, future upgrades
- Intellectual level and quality of information
- Authority of producer
- Reasonable confidence in producer's commitment to maintenance
- Currency and validity of information and updates
- Access and network capability. Access to electronic information resources
preferably not requiring individual userid and passwords
- Uniqueness and completeness of information
- Added-value and advantages over other formats
- Technical ease and accessibility, and technical compatibility with
library's existing and/or future hardware and software
- Legal issues including licensing requirement and restrictions
- Copyright and fair use issues
- Archival issues - availability, cost, limitations, storage, etc.
- Availability and quality of documentation
- Vendor's reliability in customer support and availability and quality
of training programs.
V. MULTIPLE FORMATS AND MULTIPLE COPIES
In general, the Library will acquire any given information source in
one format only. The Library's prerogative and authority in making sound
selection decisions should not be compromised by vendor-defined conditions
and constraints.
The number of users in a multi-user license will be determined by anticipated
demand and available funding. If sufficient user demand is demonstrated,
additional licenses may be acquired.
VI. LICENSING
With respect to licensing, the Library has the following definitions
and expectations:
- The Library's authorized users include the students, faculty and staff
of The University of Arizona, employees of the University Medical Center
(UMC) and all on-site visitors.
- "Site" is defined to include any U of A or UMC unit including satellite
campuses and other facilities.
- U of A students, faculty and staff, and UMC employees should be able
to access electronic resources from any location.
- Currently, the preferred method for authenticating authorized users
is via IP address ranges. In the case where this method is not feasible,
individual username and password access is acceptable.
- Currently, the preferred pricing formula is one based on the number
of simultaneous users.
- The "fair use" provision of the U.S. Copyright Act applies to all
formats. Outside requests for information from electronic resources
may be provided if those requests comply with copyright law. (See also
"Arizona Health Sciences Library Guidelines for Copyright Compliance"
[1995].)
- The purchase of electronic information should include provisions for
perpetual access to that information.
- For network-licensed programs distributed on CD-ROM, the Library assumes
the right to copy that information to and serve from a hard drive.
- For many resources, the Library will investigate a variety of licensing
arrangements including consortium and other multi-institution options.
Vendors' abilities to work with these definitions and meet these expectations
are an important factor in the collection development evaluation and selection
process.
The University of Arizona's Contracts Office, as agent of the Arizona
Board of Regents, has the authority to approve and sign the finalized
license agreements.
VII. RESPONSIBILITY AND LIBRARY DEPARTMENTAL
COORDINATION
- Evaluation, Selection, Acquisition, Renewal -- Collection Development
in coordination and consultation with other library departments. Usage
documentation of electronic resources serves as an important selection
and deselection tool. Collection Development will work with Systems
and Networking to ensure the availability of the appropriate use data.
- Technical Support and Maintenance: Bibliographic treatment and control,
storage if appropriate, networks connections, interface, on-going monitoring
of resources - Systems and Networking, Technical Services.
- Staff and End-user Training: including vendor provided training for
library staff and other staff-developed training programs for end-users,
such as developing path-finders and guides -- Education Services, Information
Services.
- Publicity and Marketing: via email, library newsletter, library Web
page, personal contacts, etc. -- Collection Development, in coordination
with Library Administration, Access Services, Education Services, and
other AHSC departments, as appropriate.
VIII. IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW
This policy will be revised as appropriate to reflect changes in the
emerging and constantly changing electronic information environment.
9/24/1998 |
