Resources for Users Committee—Minutes
February 3, 2006 —10:00 a.m.
Small Library, University of Virginia
DRAFT
Gene Damon, Presiding
Present: Gene Damon, Karen Cary, Sharon Gasser, Louveller Luster (recorder), Paul Metz,
Frank Moran, Pamela Morgan, Jane Penner, Jim Rettig, Sylvia Rortvedt, Jim Self, John
Tombarge, Pat Van Zandt, John Walsh and Kathy Perry.
1.
Announcements.
There is an article on the VIVA Serials Analysis Project in the January 2006 issue of portal:
Libraries and the Academy. Gene welcomed back the return of John Walsh to RUC meetings.
2.
Changes to the Agenda.
Agenda item #6 was switched with #11 to discuss Blackwell Publishing Journals proposal earlier
in the meeting.
3.
Approval of Minutes of November 18, 2005 meeting
No changes—Minutes approved.
4.
Budget—K. Perry
We will know more about the VIVA budget when the General Assembly convenes.
5.
Renewals
Duke University Press – K. Cary: There is a 5.2% increase for renewal. Pricing is based on the
Project Muse model, which combines a tier system, based on the Carnegie Classification with
usage statistics to create price categories. Because there are no reliable 2005 use statistics, the
2006 and 2007 prices will be based on median usage. There will be increased pricing for the
privates. Karen will investigate the newly, revised Carnegie Classifications to determine if there
is any major changes to institution classifications. Committee voted to recommend renewal.
InfoTrac (Gale) and MLA – J. Rettig: Reported a price increase of 2.5% for MLA for renewal and
3% for Infotrac. Access to the backfiles will be available at no charge. There was a discussion
about embargo titles in InfoTrac. Kathy will ask Kate Vincent to prepare a document reflecting
the current content of InfoTrac, specifically embargo titles. Committee voted to recommend
renewal of both products.
AP Archive Fee – K. Perry: There is a flat fee for access to AP Archives. With the increasing
age of the journal collection and institutions that already have access to the journals through
Science Direct, it was agreed that we would survey the VIVA community about this service. This
could be a savings for VIVA if there were no strong objections from the VIVA community to
cancel this service. Kathy will also approach non-JMU cooperative participants such as Radford
University or University of Mary Washington about mounting the archive collection on their
server. The committee recommendation was amended to not approve renewal, but to
recommend dropping archives pending the confirmation from non-ScienceDirect subscribers.
Amended motion was approved.
IOP Archives Access Fee – P. Van Zandt: Committee voted to recommend renewal.
STAT-USA – S. Rortvdet –. They have reduced the community college price by 50% and
eliminated the charge for “state agencies” which is actually just the SCHEV office. This price is
good for next three years. Pricing is based on an FTE formula. Steering Committee will be
notified that the committee recommendation to cancel this service has been reversed with an
evaluation of the product to occur this coming year. Renewal approved.
6.
New Opportunities/Shared Funding
Blackwell – S. Gasser: There are six VIVA members participating in 2006 Blackwell Publishing
offer with five schools subscribing to the full collection and one school to the HSS collection.
There is a prorated price if more institutions decide to join the current 2006 deal. There is no
distinction between publics and privates pricing. Sharon explained the different pricing model
options available to VIVA for 2007 and beyond. The committee agreed that this was a
fundamentally good deal, however, the issue is which algorithm we will put forward to the
Steering Committee. The committee recommended to let the Steering Committee and Blackwell
know of the interest in this deal and to wait to see the outcome of the Governor’s budget
recommendation to the General Assembly. Sharon and Gene will seek better terms from
Blackwell for the 2007 package deal. If this cost-sharing model of VIVA and local dollars works
well, this will make other package deals much easier to handle.
7.
STATS-USA update – S. Rortvedt:
Item was discussed earlier as a renewal agenda.
8.
Updating of RUC document – P. Metz and K. Cary
Revisions of the document were reviewed and discussed. Comments may be sent to Paul and
Karen. A finalized copy of the document will be distributed at the next meeting for committee
recommendation to approve or disapprove.
9.
Training sub-committee – P. Van Zandt
Pat asked for training demonstration recommendations. Pat will send a message to the listserv
asking for suggestions for training workshops.
10.
Encyclopedia Study – S. Rortvedt
Sylvia distributed usage statistics of Encyclopedia Britannica containing cost per use by each
institution for 2004-05. Usage was up 24% between July and October 2004. After a brief
discussion the committee recommended to renew for another year.
11.
VIVA Serials Audit Project – P. Metz
Bowker is still massaging Ulrich’s serials analysis data. The de-dupping issue has not been
resolved. A computer virus prevented Margo from sending Paul completed data. Paul stated
that since we have not been able to analyze second load, therefore, we should negotiate the
latest possible date for third and final analysis. At the next meeting, we will discuss renewal of
this product. Kathy will check on when the subscription expires.
12.
New Opportunities/Suggestions
Springer-Verlag “Lecture Notes in Computer Science” – P. Metz: Reported on the terms for a
shared purchase of this computer science series and other series. Paul will send an e-mail
message to the collection development officers to gauge interest in this offer. If this works, we
could move on to other potential book series next year.
Readex Early American Newspapers II series – K. Perry: Kathy reported that there is a one-time
purchase for this product with an annual maintenance fee. Pat will check to see if there are
other products similar to this one.
Opposing Viewpoints and Biography Resource Center – S. Gasser: JMU reference librarians
asked about any interest by other schools in purchasing these products. Jim Rettig will review
Biography Resource Center.
13.
Bowker Fiction “stuff” – P. Van Zandt
Bowker sent an announcement about the fiction service, but did not include a web link for the
product. You will need to contact Bowker for linking information. Pat will send another e-mail
message to the listserv about linking to this service.
14.
Other business
None.
15.
Next meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2006.