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The William H. Welch Medical Library's current collection policy governing the funding, selection, acquisition, and retention of library materials and information resources applies to all formats including electronic resources. See Welch Medical Library Collection Development Policy.
As of 2002, the library gives priority to the acquisition of electronic resources. This results in easier use, wider access and more timely updates. New resources are suggested by any Hopkins faculty, staff, or student, and are submitted to the Electronic Collection Development Committee for consideration.
The Johns Hopkins University libraries work collaboratively to provide the broadest possible access (anytime, anywhere) to licensed electronic resources for all current faculty, students and staff at the Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Health System. Cooperative acquisitions and cost sharing with university libraries and consortia (NERL or PALINET) are pursued when feasible to provide access to all Hopkins patrons.
Recommend a Book, Journal or Electronic Resource for Purchase.
VISION FOR THE DIGITAL LIBRARY
The availability of electronic resources opens new vistas for teaching, research, and patient care. Although acquiring materials in digital forms and organizing them for use is both costly and challenging, electronic resources will be a critical element of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and Johns Hopkins Health Systems of the future. The library will meet the demand for broader subject access and for cross-campus access with e-resources.
Material needed on a regular basis will be provided electronically. Remaining print materials will be housed onsite in the Institute of the History of Medicine and off-site in the Libraries Service Center.
Library users, liaison librarians or Welch staff may make suggestions for acquisitions via electronic form, email, etc. to library's Electronic Collection Development Committee. Resources are previewed when possible, evaluated and recommended for acquisition by the Associate Director of the Digital Library Services. The following evaluation issues are considered before adding resources.
Evaluation Issues
In general, the library acquires any given material in one format only. Multiple copies of a print subscription have been evolving into one institutional copy and eventually will be replaced by electronic resources as archival issues are resolved.
The number of users in a multi-user license is determined by anticipated demand and available funding. If sufficient user demand is demonstrated, additional licenses may be acquired.
In addition to considering each factor in the SELECTION CRITERIA section, the library also studies usage statistics to determine if the use of a resource justifies its continued maintenance and accessibility. The following criteria are considered:
The library adheres to the following definitions and expectations regarding licensing.
Small locations with some offices are not included in IP controlled access. Patrons from these locations should access the library's e-resources through the proxy remote access.
The Purchasing Officer of the Johns Hopkins University has the authority to approve and sign the finalized licensing agreements.
Since providing access to all units of JHHS and KKI costs more depending on licensing, a new funding model has been created so that all cost centers provide funds to the library for e-resources. The electronic resources budget will be deposited in the university's central fund for renewals and new materials.
RESPONSIBILITY RELATING TO E-RESOURCES
Coordinated by the Associate Director, Digital Library Services with Electronic Collection Development Committee and University Libraries Council Medicine Subject Collection Development Committee.
Usage statistics of electronic resources serve as an important selection and de-selection tool.
All e-resources are grouped as e-databases, e-books, e-journals and e-media. Licensed e-resources and selected free Internet e-resources are entered in the Oracle Database by Electronic Resource Management team using Web interface. Dynamically generated web pages are created for e-databases, e-books, e-journals, and e-media from the database. All other e-resources pages, such as Newly Added, Browse by Subject, Browse by E-Publishers, etc. are generated from Welma (Welch electronic resource management) database. Other e-resources related pages are created and updated by Eteam. Subscribed full text journals are linked with LinkOut and SFX in PubMed and other bibliographic databases. In addition, all eresources titles are entered in the Unikversity's Electronic Resources Management system.
Also, the e-resources are cataloged in JHU Online Catalog.
Welma was created by the ATIS system staff and the development of interfaces for WelchWeb for e-resources was a cooperative project between ATIS and the Eteam.
Education and Liaison Librarians arrange the training of the various vendor-provided resources for all Hopkins students, staff and faculty.
Communication and Liaison Librarians manage publicity and marketing via e-mail, library news on WelchWeb, and personal contacts.
This policy will be revised as appropriate to reflect changes in the emerging and constantly changing electronic information environment.
Updated 10/06/2008