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Re: Ads in online journals, was: Re: CBC and Liblicense list 

My concerns are more practical than theoretical.

I would be happy to see the prices drop in return for a page of
advertising that I can quickly click through. I already do that with many
of the pages and search engines I use on the Internet. In truth, I don't
see them. I click through them in the same fashion that I click through
the license agreements when I load software. (I know what a shrink-wrap
license is and I know better, but do you know anyone who reads them all?). 

My concern is with the faculty and students who will complain about the
ads for products they don't like or that offend them. In the beginning
there will be a vocal minority complaining. However, the paper journals
have ads. The Internet has ads. PBS has ads. We all complain about the
prices of the databases, but publishers and aggregators will not lower
prices beyond a certain point without an alternate source of income. This
feels like one of the more painless vehicles if controls are established
as to the type of advertising and the length of time involved (no timers
forcing you to wait for the screen to pass). 


********************************************
           Steven Melamut
   Katherine R. Everett Law Library
    University of North Carolina
CB #3385 Ridge Road    Chapel Hill, NC 27599
melamut@email.unc.edu      melas@ils.unc.edu
work: 919-962-1196         fax: 919-962-1193
********************************************

--------------Begin original message--------------

> From: Miriam Drake <miriam.drake@ibid.library.gatech.edu>
> Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 18:24:50 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Re: Ads in online journals, was: Re: CBC and Liblicense list
> To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> 
> I agree with Ann's concerns.  By subscribing to the product we may be
> implicitly endorsing the products being advertised.  If the cost of
> aggregation and distribution are covered by advertising we should not have
> to pay anything.  In that case, we would add a disclaimer stating that we
> do not endorse the products.  Miriam Drake
> 
> At 10:31 PM 4/8/98 -0400, you wrote:
> >Co-incidentally, let me report briefly on a recent development.  A large
> >aggregator of diverse information/news sources has just made an offer to a
> >group of consortia that involves keeping the price of the aggregated
> >resource at a lower (rather than far higher) level by including
> >advertising.  The advertising will be aimed (as is the product use) at
> >students, generally undergraduates.  The advertising will be
> >"click-through" so that the user of the database can look at sites of
> >interest to him or her.  The advertising will not include alcohol, drugs,
> >firearms, and other controversial products and the aggregator is willing
> >to work with a librarian advisory group to make sure that the advertising
> >chosen is not problematic or offensive. 
> >
> >When this offer was presented, we were all delighted at the possibility
> >of price stabilization.  We were variously concerned, however, about such
> >advertising for reasons such as:
> >
> >o Implied endorsement by the institution of the product being advertised.
> >o Tying up limited resources (such as library workstations) for longer
> >times, while students head for the Reebok, Coca Cola, United Airlines
> >Vacations, and Ferrari sites.
> >
> >If/when this advertising is implemented, it will be a first for our own
> >licensed electronic information resources -- ones for which we pay
> >substantial sums of money.
> >
> >I would be interested in hearing of readers' reactions to this
> >development, which I am sure only presages much more of the same.
> >
> >Ann Okerson
> >Yale University Library
> >Ann.Okerson@yale.edu
> >
> >_______________________
> >
> >> I too have never understood this position of some of the publishers.
> >> Clearly, a great many companies do think such ads work, as a startlingly
> >> large amount of money seems to be being invested in the infrastructure and
> >> production of them! As a user, yes, I will read them only if interested,
> >> but isn't that the idea?  If I were an advertiser, I imagine I would be
> >> very aware of the electronic medium's potential for measuring actual
> >> readership-- not just of the publication but the ad itself.  This is not
> >> possible in print, though I know it is attempted with survey techniques. 
> >> We are presumably seeing another instance of the maladaptive conservatism
> >> of the publishing industry. If they remain conservative to the point of
> >> fossilization, we will all lose the benefits we might get from their
> >> further evolution.
> >> 
> >> David Goodman 
> >> Biology Librarian, Princeton University Library 
> >> dgoodman@princeton.edu         http://www.princeton.edu/~biolib/
> >> phone: 609-258-3235            fax: 609-258-2627
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 

--------------End original message--------------


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