Decision-making for acquiring databases for library collections

[Liblicense-L Listowner <liblicen@pantheon.yale.edu>]

Dear Readers: In preparing for a presentation at an upcoming 
conference, colleagues and I are asking for input on the 
question:  On what basis (or bases) does your library or 
consortium make decision(s) to purchase (or license) high 
quality, expensive full text and/or archival databases (not 
journal packages, not e-books - but historical, governmental, 
archival, news, etc).

What are the various factors that motivate the decision, perhaps 
in order of importance for your organization, and how do you know 
that your criteria have been or are being met?

Replies on list (or off) are welcomed.

Thank you, Ann Okerson