Subject: Re: Access from publisher?
Mark Braden (marker@tiger.cc.oxy.edu)
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 18:36:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Braden <marker@tiger.cc.oxy.edu> Message-Id: <199908310136.SAA26049@tiger.cc.oxy.edu> Subject: Re: Access from publisher? To: arl-ejournal@arl.org Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 18:36:43 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: <3.0.32.19990830171136.006af1e0@pop3.NL.net> from "Anke de Looper" at Aug 30, 99 05:12:55 pm
Ms. de Looper:
Let me add some thoughts to the others which you've received in the last
few days.
On Mon, 30 Aug 1999, Anke de Looper <Anke.DeLooper@benjamins.nl> wrote:
>
> 1) Libraries seem to favor IP-controlled access over passwords. Is that
> so, and why? I thought passwords would allow greater flexibility in
> offering access to patrons even if they are off-site. Also, IP
> authentications is problematic (see ARL-EJOURNAL messages in
> February about JANET cache).
-1-I/P address authentication
Yes, I/P address authentication is the most functional means for most
of us. Passwords are simply a nightmare -- distributing them, and
also fulfilling our responsibility to see that they are used only by
licensed members of our academic community.
Until a different technology becomes prominent, I'll add my voice to
those who point you to I/P authentication -- it is the only functional
means to provide access, yet fulfill license restrictions.
> 2) Do libraries (prefer to) download an issue of an electronic journal
> once, to offer access to patrons from a local server, or is the
> issue/document downloaded from the publisher's server by each
> patron in turn? Does this depend on what the publisher allows?
>
> Any comments, suggestions or pointers are appreciated.
-2-Archived by library or by publisher, or aggregator?
I'd like to offer a strong caution about the use of aggregators for
archiving and delivering your journals. I consider it only _part_ of
the solution. By _itself_, the aggregator is a troubled solution for
providing complete, long-term access to a publication.
While the aggregator databases fulfill an important role in delivering
intellectual resources, I've been deeply troubled by the difficulty in
fetching issues of a particular journal, when the journal's
articles/issues are only in an aggregator database.
Let me use an image to illustrate: while a good fish stew has a
delightful flavor, and an important role in the meal, you face serious
effort -- perhaps an impossible task -- if you decide that you want
only the vegetables or the fish, or the seasoning in the stew. Some
aggregators have something like that result -- getting at the issues
of a particular journal can be tricky, and sometimes impossible.
But just as to me, are the licensing issues. Having seen the ebb and
flow of resources in aggregators like Lexis/Nexis (a quick example
is the sudden departure of ALL Time/Warner publications), I'm deeply
concerned about the aggregators as a _long_-_term_ archive of any
particular publication.
So, let me point you to the example of the Johns Hopkins Univ. Press,
or Stanford's efforts with the Livewire Press. Those agencies have
made an impressive success at providing access to a particular
publication, and all issues in the archive.
You have my best regard for your kindness in asking the library
community through this discussion group. I look forward to seeing
the outcome of your efforts.
With all good wishes,
Mark Braden
-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Braden Internet: marker@oxy.edu Catalog/Systems Librarian Facsimile: 323.341.4991 Occidental College Library Voice: 323.259.2668 1600 Campus Road Los Angeles, California 90041-3392,,George ist auch der beste kleine Geschirrspueler in Texas." --Barbara Bush, Ehefrau von George Bush _Zeit_, 11.2.94
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