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Substituting Chemical Abstracts
Hi, We have tried to find a way of giving free access to the Chemical Abstracts database to our students, researchers , and faculty and have concluded that the only way at the present time is to acquire the 12th Collective Index with Abstracts, the 13th Collective Index with Abstracts, and a subscription to Chemical Abstracts on CD. This is the only fixed cost alternative. All other solutions have variable costs that are impossible to calculate with any precision. This solution also requires that you maintain a subscription to Chemical Abstracts on paper. If you plan on charging for access to the online service then you can recover your cost but then there is no reason for cutting your subscription to the paper edition. Furthermore, I don't think you can count on your users searching STN mostly in off peak hours unless they pay for the service themselves. Then again if they pay for the service themselves, why cut Chemical Abstracts on paper? Every time we give access to the CD-ROM, network, or Internet versions of an abstract we notice a considerable increase in use. If you give free access to STN you will probably find the same thing especially if there is no alternative. Michel Dagenais Conseiller a la documentation Universite Laval Bibliotheque scientifique Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon Quebec, G1K 7P4 Telephone: (418) 656-2131 poste 7945 Telecopieur: (418) 656-7699 Courrier electronique: Michel.Dagenais@Bibl.Ulaval.Ca >Forwarded message: >Date: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 11:25:28 -0800 >From: Dan Lester <dan@84.com> > >We're giving very serious consideration to replacing Chemical Abstracts >with a subscription to CA's STN services at the Albertsons Library of Boise >State University. Our tentative plans are to have simultaneous accounts on >the Commercial (full price) plan and the Academic plan (90 percent discount >to non-science-doctorate institutions, available in non-prime-time, and >limited databases). We imagine that the majority of use would be in the >cheap times and services, but we'd maintain a passworded account for those >who had a real need to daytime access or to the databases that are not >available on the less expensive version. > >My questions are basic: Have you done this? Why or why not? Can you >describe your successes and failures, both from the library and chemistry >faculty points of view? What other types of CA services are possible >substitutes and how do they work? > >I'd also be interested in related comments from those more knowledgable in >the chemical literature field, or from others with specialized knowledge. >I took three years of college chemistry, but it was over 30 years ago, so >I'm not up on the latest. ACS assures us that if we have this access the >Chemistry Department will not have any problems with accreditation, since >the chemists will have full-time, full-search access when they need it. > >We have indicated to the chemists that some of the savings that we expect >to have will go to the purchase of more chemistry books, journals, and/or >services. They're interested, but a bit fearful, mainly due to the access >vs. ownership issues. > >I'll compile results of any responses sent to me privately, and post them >to the list. List discussion or comment is also fine with me. > >thanks > >dan > >Dan Lester, 3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho 83716-7115 USA
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