[IUG] Research Pro Resources list

["Hal Penick" <HPENICK at icpl dot org>]

We are at the stage of selecting resources we would like to offer our patrons through Research Pro. We would like to add the ability to search Wikipedia and were suprised to see that it is not one of the 2600+ offerings on the resource list. We were told we could have it profiled for a one-time cost of $3000. After it is profiled it would then be put on the "list" for others to possibly select. The RP Resource List form at csdirect has a method for libraries to request an unlisted resource. It clearly specifies that such requests are "typically available for an additional fee". I would maintain that Wikipedia is a resource of broad and significant enough interest that no one library should have to bare the entire cost of profiling. I would think that in the interest of maintaining the marketability of Research Pro that such sites would be proactively added to the list simply to keep the product current.

Incidentally, we were also disappointed to see that we would have to pay profiling fees to offer All Music Guide; Books and Authors; Internet Movie Database; Biography Resource Center; Encyclopedia of Associations; ChiltonLibrary; Encyclopedia Britannica (paid version); Ebscohost: Health Source: Consumer Edition; Ebscohost: Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; Ebscohost: Children's Edition; Ward's Business Directory; and Newspaper Archives.

Although they are heavily used outside our service area we can understand paying for resources of regional interest such as, Iowa Heritage Digital Collection, and our Local Newspaper Index.

Hal

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Hal Penick
Systems Coordinator
Iowa City Public Library
123 South Linn St.
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
(319) 887-6035
hpenick at icpl dot org 
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