Re: Electronic Reserves

On Wed, 11 Nov 1998, Michael Scarpitti <mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> wrote:
>
> I think the whole issue of remote electronic reserve needs to be thought
> out more carefully.
>
> 1) Students and teachers can always be expected to try to get the most
> material they can "free" or at minimal cost.

"Minimal" is a relative term. What's considered "minimal" for purchase of materials for a library collection is often considered "astronomical" to others who would compare the cost to similar materials at a bookstore.

I work in an academic library, and since this opinion represents a sample of only one, I'll admit it's qualitative so take it with a grain of salt. I'll bet you dollars to donut holes that other librarians will face experiences that will be similar to that which I am about to relate. Where I work there are *many* darn good professors who are constantly on the lookout for high quality instructional materials, be they books, videos, CD-ROM's or what have you. And many of these professors are savvy enough to known darn good and well that quality is difficult to assess with "free" materials such as those promulgated on the web. What they *do* is submit requests to buy the materials they've evaluated or wish to preview, and the price tag for these items overwhelms the available budget. Try purchasing a reputable video for a nursing program worth its salt; $300 per unit is not "exorbitant" by academic standards!

The declaration, "Students and teachers can always be expected to try to get the most material they can "free" or at minimal cost." is an unwelcome blanket statement as judgmental as it is unjust.

> Many students assume that their tuition pays for such material.
> The notion of a separate payment to authors is alien to this group;
> moreover, many could not care less. I am frequently around college
> libraries and copiers, and you would not believe what I see.

And what do you see? What I see are students paying 25 cents per *page* for a journal article available on CD-ROM. A portion of this consists of royalty fees to the copyright holder(s).

--
Glen (McKay) Gummess, M.A. Ed.
AV Services Coordinator
New Mexico Junior College
5317 Lovington Highway
Hobbs, NM  88240
(505) 392-5468 (voice)
gmckay[_at_]nmjc.cc.nm.us