Re: Are banner ads acceptable on licesnsed databases?

[David Goodman <dgoodman@Princeton.EDU>]

My personal opinion is that these are tolerable for free databases, but not if
any charge is made for the material. At the very least, I would insist on a
contractual limit on size, frequency, location, and presentation (no blinking
or animation). 
 
For journals, etc., where the ads are an intrinsic part of the items then I
would feel  otherwise, and would prefer that they be included, just as I
include them in binding paper copies.

An interesting related case is the acceptability of putting links to book
dealers in the online catalog. I can see how the users might find them
useful; I believe some such dealers offer the library a small percentage
of the purchases made. I cannot decide if this is a fatal compromise of
our integrity, or an inevitable coming to terms with reality.

David Goodman
Biology Librarian, and
Co-Chair, Electronic Journals Task Force
Princeton University Library
dgoodman@princeton.edu         http://www.princeton.edu/~biolib/
phone: 609-258-3235            fax: 609-258-2627
 
____
GenAnnual@aol.com wrote:

> Colleagues,
> 
> I need your opinion. An online database vendor has asked me if librarians
> would accept or object to their placing banner ads, visible to library
> patrons, on licensed databases hosted by their company?
> 
> What would be your reaction? Not care; accepting; would cancel the
> subscription or?  I take it that they feel they could charge lower fees if
> they had the additional revenue from the ads.
> 
> What's your feeling?