Handbook of Electronic & Digital Acquisitions

"Handbook of Electronic and Digital Acquisitions" steers librarians through the process of evaluating, choosing, and managing electronic resources, as they expand their collection development policies to include electronic databases. This handy, how-to guide takes a practical approach to acquisitions, providing commonsense information on basic copyright laws, fair use guidelines and policies, offsite and in-house databases, virtual reference software, EDI, and vendors. The book's contributors draw on their own experiences, providing case studies and helpful evaluation checklists, worksheets, and templates. Electronic journals, full-text databases, and electronic books are altering the traditional purpose of the library as an "archive" for publications. "The Handbook of Electronic and Digital Acquisitions" provides usable tips on the practical aspects of implementing electronic resources, helping librarians develop the potential of digital media, as they work to provide their patrons with top quality access and services in a rapidly changing environment. "The Handbook of Electronic and Digital Acquisitions" examines: evaluating databases for acquisition, retention, and withdrawal; budgeting for electronic resources; measuring user satisfaction; online aggregated databases; licensing agreements; the TEACH (Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization) Act; the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; and e-mail tools. "The Handbook of Electronic and Digital Acquisitions" is an invaluable aid to librarians working at all levels, as they attempt to keep pace with their changing environment.