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Choosing Resources

eHLbc selects new licensed resources using the following process:

1. Members submit product suggestions for consideration.

eHLbc accepts suggestions for new products to license consortially via the Electronic Suggestion Box (eBox), an online communication tool available only to eHLbc member staff. eHLbc investigates products for consortial licensing following a product selection process.

All suggestions for new products are generated by eHLbc members. These suggestions are assumed to be consistent with the mission and research goals of the submitting organization. Each organization is responsible for evaluating electronic resources according to their needs. All submissions must be products related to the health disciplines.

2. Members complete the Ranking Survey.

The eHLbc Ranking Survey is distributed to members following a call for submissions to the eBox. A designated staff member from each member organization is asked to vote for their organization’s desired choices among the products nominated via the eBox. The results of the Ranking Survey establish eHLbc's acquisition priorities.

3. eHLbc decides which resources to investigate further.

The eHLbc Administrative Centre looks at the results of the Ranking Survey and other criteria, including, but not limited to:

  • Content: eHLbc seeks a balance across a spectrum of health disciplines (including medicine, nursing, psychology, and general or cross-disciplinary). Resource content should be comprehensive, durable, and accurate. In addition, content should be current and updated with appropriate frequency.
  • Functionality: The resource should include basic and advanced search modes, text mode for visually impaired access, and OpenURL linking.
  • Technical Requirements: The resource should support authentication methods facilitating access by all authorized users including remote users. It should also support a variety of web browsers and versions, and be aligned with industry standards of interoperability. Resources must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provide adequate online help and documentation.
  • Cost: eHLbc seeks to give priority to licensing electronic resources which offer economies of scale by benefiting the most eHLbc member organizations system-wide.
  • Management: The resource should support site-specific customization, IP address updates, and usage reporting should be available via a well-designed administrative web interface. Usage statistics should be available and adhere to the COUNTER standard. COUNTER follows Codes of Practice that specify the content, format, delivery mechanisms and data processing rules for a set of core usage reports that are easily implemented by vendors and easily understood by librarians.

eHLbc then selects 2 to 3 resources to investigate further.

4. eHLbc coordinates and negotiates the licensing process.

eHLbc coordinates and negotiates this process by:

  • Gathering information (e.g. background material, title lists, and other relevant documentation)
  • Arranging database trials
  • Negotiating the best pricing
  • Examining the license agreement and negotiating terms and conditions
  • Acting as a point of communication between the vendor and eHLbc's members

5. eHLbc members pick their preferred resources.

Member organizations contact eHLbc to join the Boutique Licenses. Organizations may acquire as many or as few Boutique Resources as they like.