Finding alternatives when a major database is gone

Authors

  • Estelle Hu MLIS, AHIP, Health Sciences Bibliographer and Assistant Professor, Library of the Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1750 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2016.64

Keywords:

Databases, Library Collection Development, Textbooks as Topics, Statistics as Topic, Book Selection

Abstract

Question: What to do when a major database ceases publication?

Setting: An urban, academic health sciences library with four campuses serves a university health sciences system, a college of medicine, and five other health sciences colleges.

Methods: Usage statistics of each e-book title in the resource were carefully analyzed. Purchase decisions were made based on the assessment of usage.

Results: Sustainable resources were acquired from other vendors, with perpetual access for library users.

Conclusion: This systematic process of finding alternative resources is an example of librarians’ persistence in acquiring perpetual electronic resources when a major resource is cancelled.

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Published

2016-11-21

Issue

Section

Case Report