Electronic resources

Definition of electronic resource

An electronic resource is a manifestation of a work encoded for manipulation by computer. The manifestion resides in a carrier accessed either directly or remotely. Some electronic resources may require of a peripheral device attached to a computer (for example, a CD-ROM player). This definition does not include electronic resources that do not require the use of a computer, for example, music compact discs and videodiscs.

Cataloguing Electronic Resources: OCLC-MARC Coding Guidelines. 6 Dec. 2001. 25 Mar. 2002.

An updated definition is available on the OCLC Website at http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/cataloging/electronicresources/

Type of electronic materials

• Full-text
• Music
• Numeric databases
  o Statistics
• Reference materials
  o Bibliographies
  o Indexes
  o Abstracts
  o Tables of contents
  o Almanacs
  o Encyclopedias
• Software
   
  Issues
• Licensing
  o # of users allowed at one time
  o Remote access
  o ILL or sharing allowed?
• Selection criteria applicable to electronic format
  o Ease of use
  o Searching capability
  o Operating system platform
  o System hardware requirements
  o Ease of downloading
  * Emailing
  o Printing capabilities
  * Downloading
  o Access
  * Full MARC cataloguing, links on library Web site, etc.
  o Selection when same “title” available in various formats and versions
  o Access vs ownership
  * Who is able to use the database?
  * Must subscribe to gain access.
  o Preservation (will it always be there?
  * There may not be paper copies of all electronic resources.
  o Duplication/overlap between print and electronic resources
  * Do you want both?
  * Weigh pros and cons
  o Technical concerns
  * Staff/patron training
  * Technical support
  * Ease of installation
  * Compatibility with existing hardware/software
• May not be able to upgrade easily
  * Availiability/reliability of telecommunications, servers, etc. for materials accessed remotely
  * Viruses

Web sites

 

Auer, Nicole J. “Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources.” 20 Aug. 2001. 26 Mar. 2002. http://web.archive.org/web/20020127084051/http://www.lib.vt.edu/research/libinst/evalbiblio.html Contains link to interactive module on evaluating Internet resources.

Selection tools

 

American Library Association, Association of College & Research Libraries. C&RL NewsNet: Internet Reviews Archive. 14 Feb. 2002. 26 Mar. 2002. http://www.bowdoin.edu/~samato/IRA/

Contains reviews of Internet resources written by librarians.

AcqWeb. Online Information Vendors and Electronic Publishers. 26 Mar. 2002. http://acqweb.org/pubr/online.html

 

Choice. Reviews Web publications.

Scout Report. 15 Mar. 2004. http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/

Published every Friday both on the web and by email. It provides a way to stay informed of valuable resources on the Internet. Professional librarians and subject matter experts select, research, and annotate each resource. From University of Wisconsin.

Nonprint selection criteria

Programming

• Formal instruction
  o How will it be used?
• Recreational use
  o Buy, not show in group, show at home nit pick, rent a movie show at home to friend
• Audience (adults, children, all ages)
• Circulate/in house
• Member resource sharing network

This is especially true for the more traditional nonprint, audio and visual. When going to acquire a book (shop, jobber, online) , get a discount for a wide variety of selection. There is a much easier paper trail. Must preview videos for their suitability before presenting. Chapters sell CDs and videos, a few educational, more commercially; few bookstores sell many AV materials. Go to distributor – they are just selling the product, not making it. Ask for a preview before committing to buy, check the suitability. Non-print materials aren’t as widely reviewed as print materials. Also rent videos if they won’t widely be used for a period of time.

 

Content

• Primary purpose?
  o Entertainment
  o Educational
• Length appropriate?
• Topic of long term interest?
  o Will it be here today, gone tomorrow?
• Material well organized?
• Story line easy to follow?
• Popularization accurate?
• Copyright date?
  o Tends to be longer than on books.
• Will visuals or audio date quickly?
  o Visuals impact audience. It needs to look current to appeal.
• Multiple uses?

Technical

• Visuals necessary?
• Visuals in proper focus, composition effective, shots appropriate?
• Skillfully edited?
• Does background audio contribute to overall impact?
• Good synchronization of visuals and audio?
• How may format be used?
  o Small/large groups, both?
  o Darkened/semi lightened/fully lighted room?

Format

• Best format for producer’s stated purpose?
  o How to needs to be repetitive
• Least expensive format of those appropriate for content?
• Will format stand up to amount and type of anticipated use?
• If damaged, is repair possible or purchase of replacement required?
• Maintenance required?
• What are equipment requirements?

 

Sources of reference

Evan, G. Edward, and Margaret R. Zarnosky. Developing Library and Information Center Collections. 4th ed. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 2000. (Z 687 E918 1999)

 

Gregory, Vicki L. Selecting and Managing Electronic Resources. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2000. (Z 692 G74 2000).