RE: NetLibrary novice

["Turner, Anne" <A.Turner@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, Mitch - much clearer now!
 Anne

-----Original Message-----
From: Mitch Turitz [mailto:turitz@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: 27 October 2000 19:04
To: innopac@xxxxxxxxxx; innopac-digest@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Turner, Anne
Subject: Re: NetLibrary novice


Anne:
   See my replies in CAPS below.
-- Mitch Turitz

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 16:32:42 +0100
From: "Turner, Anne" <A.Turner@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: NetLibrary novice

Don't know much about the NetLibrary service yet - read the 
information on CSDirect and am left wondering:

1)  Apart from the Innopac interface, what are the main advantages of 
contracting with NetLibrary given that the service is (freely?)
available on the Web and users can register themselves and go ahead 
and read or download the e-books?  How expensive is it?

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER OF THEIR PRESENTATIONS, 
THE COST IS ABOUT THE SAME AS THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE HARDBACK, 
PLUS A "SERVICE FEE" TO MAINTAIN THE BOOK.  THE IDEA IS THAT THE 
LIBRARY OWNS THE BOOK BUT IT IS HOUSED ON THEIR SERVER. OBVIOUSLY THE 
ADVANTAGE TO THE PATRON IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO "BUY" THE BOOK TO 
GET ACCESS TO IT IF THEY ARE COMING FROM YOUR SERVER.

2)  Shouldn't Innopac access to the book be controlled by patron's 
number (same as with Electronic reserves) rather than Library IP 
address,
so the patron can use the service from anywhere?

SINCE THE BOOK RESIDES ON NETLIBRARY'S SERVER, THEY DO NOT KEEP TRACK 
OF OUR PATRON RECORDS.  ONCE THE PATRON IS AUTHENTICATED BY OUR WAM 
SOFTWARE (IP ADDRESS CHECKING), THEN NETLIBRARY REQUIRES THE PATRON 
TO SET UP A PATRON REGISTRATION WITH NETLIBRARY.  THEY CAN THEN 
CONNECT DIRECTLY TO NETLIBRARY AND USE THEIR OWN ID/PASSWORD WHICH 
THEY HAVE NOW SET UP AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR LIBRARY SERVER. 
THIS IS VERY CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE FOR UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, WHERE 
OUR PATRON DATABASE CHANGES CONSTANTLY WE DON'T WANT OUR PATRONS TO 
HAVE ACCESS TO OUR COLLECTION, "FOREVER."  WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO 
DENY ANYONE ACCESS IF THEY HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FINES, ETC., EITHER.

3)  Why should the patron need to "check out" the e-book - why should 
they need "exclusive" access to it for a period of time?  Can't
e-books be used concurrently by severals users if required?  Is the 
booked "checked in" again automatically after the specified period?

MOST PEOPLE CAN'T READ ENTIRE BOOKS ONLINE.  TECHNICAL BOOKS (I.E. 
REFERENCE BOOKS) SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT FOR LONG PERIODS. 
WE ARE THINKING OF HIGH DEMAND REFERENCE TITLES FOR THIS PURPOSE. 
THE BOOK CAN ONLY BE CHECKED OUT TO ONE PERSON AT A TIME, UNLESS YOU 
"PURCHASE" MULTIPLE COPIES.

4)  Why is there a separate Preview option to access the entire 
content of the e-book for a maximum of 20 minutes?  (I can perhaps 
see why
if only one user at a time can have full access as above.)

20 MINUTES SHOULD BE ENOUGH TIME TO DETERMINE IF YOU NEED TO "CHECK 
OUT" THE BOOK.

   Thanks for any help,

     Anne Turner
     Sheffield Hallam University, UK
     a.turner@xxxxxxxxxx

 

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  |   |     Mitch Turitz, Serials Librarian           |   |
  |   |     San Francisco State University Library    |   |
  |   |     Acting President,                         |   |
  |   |     SFSU California Faculty Association       |   |
  |   |     voice: (415) 338-7883                     |   |
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This message was distributed through the Innovative Users Group INNOPAC list.
Private replies:  "Turner, Anne" <A.Turner@xxxxxxxxxx>
Public replies:   INNOPAC@xxxxxxxxxx
Archives:  http://innopacusers.org/list/archives/