Complete E-Journal Access Solutions

Steve McCrackenSerials Solutions, Inc.

Serials Solutions

Serials Solutions helps librarians and their patrons find and use full-text, electronic journals.

A-to-Z Title Lists

Single, comprehensive list of an institution’s e-journals

Enhancements:

• Searchable by ISSN and title• New tools in Client Center &

Library Resource Center • Variety of formats• Links to Ulrichsweb.com• Includes Journal Linker

Journal Linker

• Delivers context-specific linking – a key benefit of OpenURL resolvers

• Link from an abstract, index or citation to the full-text of the journal, anywhere in a library’s collection.

• Included with A-to-Z title list

MARC Records

Allows Libraries to include e-journals in their OPAC

• Bibliographic data from CONSER

• Holdings data from Serials Solutions

• Extensive customization for each institution

• Updated every month or every other month

Data Management Services

Serials Solutions provides configuration files to significantly reduce amount of time required to configure knowledgebases.

• Delivered at request of libraries and other link resolver vendors

• Third party knowledgebases are customized, but are usually not comprehensive. Many differences remain.

Serials Solutions’ OpenURL Resolver

• Accepts context-specific OpenURLs

• Provides links directly to the article

• Provides links to extended resources

• Easy to install and maintain• Integrates with A-to-Z lists

and full MARC records• Best Value• Available in May

Full-Featured OpenURL Resolver

OpenURL Linking System

Data about your library’s

collection

Resolver

OpenURL

Full-text

Results page

Citation

1. OpenURL carries data about desired object.

2. Link resolver compares data in OpenURL with data about library’s collection.

3. Patron selects best option for full text.

Three Key Ingredients

• Content provider participation

Key question: What types of linking do your content providers support?

• Data about your collection

Key questions: Is the data used by the resolver an accurate reflection of your collection? Is it easy to install and maintain?

• Resolver software

Key questions: Will it deliver the features you need and use?Is it easy to install and maintain?

The Role of Data

Accurate data is critical for a link resolver to deliver real value.

• Missing data requires duplicate searches, or directs patrons to more expensive and time-consuming options.

• Inaccurate data leads to dead links and frustrated patrons.

• Journal-level links are far more common than article. Accuracy here is critical to getting patrons to content quickly.

“Garbage in, garbage out”

Superior Data Acquisition

Serials Solutions provides the most accurate data available

Coverage of virtually every full-text English language database• More than 400 databases and more than 100 content providers

Direct relationships with aggregators and publishers• Our entire database is updated every month• Non-full-text and non-serial items are removed• Embargo dates included• Best available URLs• Limited error correction -- “We aggregate data. We rely on

accuracy of content providers.”

Customizing Article Linker

Data is easily customized using the online Client Center

• Include print holdings

• Add proxy-server prefixes

• Add Library-specific, journal-specific URLs for ProQuest and Gale (Sitebuilder and InfoMarks)

• Edit journal holdings in “select databases”

• One profile can configure your MARC records, A-to-Z list, and Article Linker

• Changes in Online Client Center are updated overnight

• No need to customize and maintain a knowledgebase for your library

Article Linker Software

Article Linker – Multiple entry points

Print and Non-Linked Citations

Browse A-to-Z title list or search for individual journals

Select “Additional Full Text Options” or“Search for Article”

Citation Searching with Article Linker

Enter appropriate citation data into the citation search page.

Best possible links will be displayed on results page, along with extended services.

Software Hosted by Serials Solutions

All of the resolver software is hosted on Serials Solutions’ servers

• No complex servers to purchase, install and maintain

• No software to install and maintain

• Existing subscribers install in under a day

• No maintenance

Future Product Development

Federated searching

• One search across multiple resources

• Target release date: Beta available at ALA Annual

Significant functionality enhancements for existing products

• Subject Data from Ulrich’s

• Many more…

Business Considerations: Vendors

Link Resolvers trap data that could be useful to content providers:

• A library’s database subscriptions and terms

• Click-throughs to different content providers,

databases, and individual journals

Link resolvers have the ability to steer patrons towards or away from specific content providers

• Priority placement of links

• Best available URLs

Complimentary Products -- for whom?

Comparison at a mid-sized academic library:

Estimated price for an A-to-Z list: $2,200Estimated price for an OpenURL resolver: $7,200Estimated budget for e-journals: $100,000+

Can’t forecast what will happen, but we think this opens the door to place more power in the hands of a few content providers.

“Knowledge is power.”

Business Considerations: Vendors

• Not a content provider. Our sole purpose is to help librarians and patrons find and use their electronic content.

• Serials Solutions does not and will not provide priority placement or give content providers access to library profiles without explicit instructions from the library to do so.

• Serials Solutions does not and will not provide usage information to content providers

Serials Solutions is an unbiased advocate for libraries

Role of Consortia

Communication Channel

• Our strategy is to offer great value and products, get our information out there, and then let the libraries decide

• We post features, prices and terms on our website for all to review

• We do less “push” marketing than others

• Communication about new features and new products

• Allows travel to be more effective

Role of Consortia

Administrative efficiency

• Billing services

• Coordination during renewals

Consortia as trusted partner for libraries

• Alternate feedback loop

• Monitor vendor performance

Role of Consortia

Potential Pitfalls

• Communication can be delayed

Prevention: “cc” field vs. “To” field in emails

• Additional administrative overhead

Prevention: Minimize or coordinate subscription agreements for individual libraries

Summary:

• Consortia have been critical to our success, and will continue to be an integral part of our overall strategy.

Pricing

Number of Journal Holdings Tracked

A-to-Z Title List (includes

Journal Linker)

Article Linker (includes

A-to-Z Title List)

Full MARC Records (incl.

A-to-Z Title List)

Under 7,000 $1,125$5,400 $6,750

7,001-10,000 $1,690

10,001-15,000 $2,250 $7,200 $9,000

15,001-20,000 $2,815 $9,000 $11,250

20,001-25,000 $3,375 $10,800 $13,500

Over 25,000 $3,940 $12,600 $15,750

• 10% discount for subscriptions of two years or more

• 10% multi-product discount for MARC and Article Linker

• 25% introductory discount for Article Linker until 7/31/03

List Prices: Valid through Dec. 31, 2003.

• Consortia discount of 15% for 5-19 libraries

• Consortia discount of 25% for 20 or more libraries

• International sales handled through Bowker U.K.

Serials Solutions

Serials Solutions helps librarians and their patrons find and use full-text, electronic journals.

www.serialssolutions.com

1 - 866 - SERIALSSteve@serialssolutions.comPeter@serialssolutions.comChris@serialssolutions.com

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