Rachel Hardy

Developing a model for e-prints and open access journal content in UK further and higher education

A study carried out for the UK Joint Information Systems Committee examined models for the provision of access to material in institutional and subject‐based archives and in open access journals. Their relative merits were considered, addressing not only technical concerns but also how e‐print provision (by authors) can be achieved – an essential factor for an effective e‐print delivery service (for users). A ‘harvesting’ model is recommended, where the metadata of articles deposited in distributed archives are harvested, stored and enhanced by a national service. This model has major advantages over the alternatives of a national centralized service or a completely decentralized one. Options for the implementation of a service based on the harvesting model are presented.

User privacy in the digital library environment: an investigation of policies and preparedness

With digital technology libraries can archive considerable resources of detailed information about their users. This data is generally regarded as confidential between the library and the individual, but it has potential interest for commercial organisations, law enforcement and security agencies, and libraries themselves, to assist in marketing their services. The Privacy in the Digital Library Environment project at Loughborough University, 2000‐2002, investigated the issues this raises. Findings suggested that users had low levels of anxiety about privacy when using libraries, but this was because they expected that libraries would not pass on personal data to other bodies. Librarians, whilst respecting privacy as a professional value in principle, did not give it a high rating against other values. Additionally, a significant minority of libraries was not well prepared for data protection. To assist the professional community, guidelines for privacy policy were drawn up on the basis of suggestions made by survey respondents.

Digitized content in the UK research library and archives sector

A study of the current provision of digitized collections for researchers in the UK higher education sector was carried out through desk research, a Web-based questionnaire of research libraries and interviews. The study identified a great deal of digitized material in the sector and there has been considerable expenditure of UK public funds in the creation of digital material in the last ten years. However, funding of digitization has been piecemeal and uncoordinated. It is clear that there is a need for coordination, but no agreement on how it should be implemented. Any future national approach would have to be a coordinated and distributed, rather than centralized, one.

Pricing strategies and models for the provision of digitized texts in higher education

The paper describes research into charging mechanisms for the delivery of digitized texts to students in the higher education sector. A satisfactory pricing model in this domain is urgently required. The history and background of the use and pricing of digitized texts for students in the higher education sector is examined. Issues of economics in the electronic era are described. The issues involved are outlined in relation to the stakeholders involved, namely academics, authors, the CLA (Copyright Licensing Agency), HERON (Higher Education Resources On-demand) libraries in the HE sector, publishers and students. Past projects and research conducted to date are considered and the results discussed. Particular reference is made to the HERON project, a service provided for the UK higher education community that delivers copyright clearance, digitization and delivery of the text to UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). HERON is also building up a national database and resource bank of the texts. Other electronic resource models are considered, in particular library initiatives. International projects are covered in relation to how pricing issues are addressed throughout the world, particularly in the USA. The case is proposed of the benefits to all stakeholders of establishing a mutually acceptable pricing model for the distribution of digitized texts to the HE/FE community. The PELICAN project had the ultimate aim of developing pricing models for the delivery of digitized text to the UK HE community, satisfying all stakeholders as far as possible. The project’s initial research findings are described, including a table of the possible pricing mechanisms and initial conclusions drawn.

PELICAN: One step closer to the solution of the pricing problem

This paper discusses the research work and initial findings of the PELICAN project. The ultimate aim of the project is to develop pricing models for the delivery of digitised text to the UK Higher Education Community. The factors influencing pricing models in this area are summarised and the issues of licensing, technology and administration are discussed in further detail. General pricing models are briefly discussed and these lead onto more detailed examples of pricing models that have been considered for the UK Higher Education market. Through interviews and work conducted with the Higher Education sector and the UK publishing community PELICAN is working towards the ultimate aim of the development of a few pricing models that achieve consensus as far as is possible.

PELICAN: a pricing mechanism for the electronic distribution of materials to the higher education community

PELICAN (Pricing Experiment Library Information Co‐operative Network) is a Joint Information Systems Committee‐funded project intended to develop an understanding of possible charging mechanisms for distributing commercially published digitized texts to students. The paper discusses the background to the project and sets out its aims and intentions within the context of ongoing dialogues between rights holders and the higher and further education communities. A brief description of the methodology to be adopted and the likely benefits for all stakeholders of establishing a mutually acceptable business and pricing model for the digitization of printed texts in UK higher education is presented.