“Getting Best Value from your Collection of E-Journals”

Ian Pattenden - Bowker (UK) Ltd

Overview of Serials Solutions

• Independent company founded by a Serials Librarian three years ago

• Not in the business of selling journal content but are advocates of solutions to access the electronic content you are already paying for

• Bowker (publishers of ulrichsweb.com) now partnering Serials Solutions exclusively outside of North America

Why?

• Search through hundreds of different databases and sources

• Confusion between full text, selected full text, & abstracting and indexing databases

• Constantly changing holdings

• Limited reporting of changes by content providers

The Problem… Finding a specific journal in full-text, electronic format is time-consuming and difficult

…In Most Libraries:

• Expensive electronic resources are often under-used

• Librarians and patrons are forced to waste time searching for journals

• Libraries lack clear information on what they actually subscribe to

• In-house solutions (lists) are often expensive, incomplete and time-consuming to maintain

Current Situation…

The Solution…

…A single comprehensive list of your library’s full-text electronic journals, fully maintained for you by Serials Solutions

• Fully customised A-to-Z title list of all your full-text E-Journals

• Links to the full text from each record

• Updated every other month

• Can include library’s print holdings

• Includes all holdings dates

Superior Data Acquisition and Tracking

Coverage of more than 400 databases- Virtually every full-text English language database

Direct relationships with aggregators and publishers• The ENTIRE database is updated every month, most

distributions to libraries are every two months• Non-full-text and non-serial items are removed• Best available URLs are included

Benefits of the service

Dramatically reduces search time; • A comprehensive search for an individual journal drops from an

HOUR or more to a few MINUTES or less

More efficient use of library resources;• Excellent value (Just £865.00 to track <7,000 e-journals)• Increases use of electronic resources• Reduces inter-library loan costs• Time-saving for librarian and patron

Link with Ulrichsweb…

Added Feature - Journal Linker

• Patron finds an abstract and wants to access the full text

• They simply click button to find journal

•Provides link from abstracts and indexes to the cited journal, anywhere in your collection. Serves your patrons' needs by connecting disparate resources

New Product - Link Resolver

This product is still in development but due for release in Summer 2003

• Open URL Link Resolver

• Article Level Linking

• Links to OPAC

• Links to Inter Library Loan, Document Delivery and Web

• Citation linker

Full MARC Records

Serials Solutions is the original company offering this unique and high quality customised cataloguing service…

• Combines best holdings data and best bibliographic records available

• Serials Solutions’ holdings data

• CONSER Serials bibliographic data

• Combined and customised using Serials Solutions’ proprietary software

MARC - Sample

Full MARC Records - Benefits

Include your electronic journals in your OPAC

• Single SourceMaintain your OPAC as the single cataloguefor your library’s ENTIRE COLLECTION

• Searchability Use your OPAC’s searching functionality with your e-journals

• Provide your patrons with the very best tools for accessing your e-journals

How does Serials Solutions differ from similar services?

• From under £1,000.00 for a fully customised solution

• No need to invest in expensive servers nor keep updating a “knowledgebase”

• High quality customised data maintained for you under your library’s branding

• Serials Solutions is not a subscription agent but an independent company so there is no conflict of interest

Summary

• Designed by serials librarians who understand your requirements

• Maximise the visibility and usage of your e-journal collection

• Allow patrons to easily find the best resources for their needs

• Save the library’s time, effort and money tracking your e-journals data

• Get best value from the electronic subscriptions you have

For Further Information…

• Visit - the Bowker stand here at ANKOS

• Visit - www.serialssolutions.com

• Email - Ian.Pattenden@bowker.co.uk

“Getting Best Value from your Collection of E-Journals”

Ian Pattenden - Bowker (UK) Ltd