Collection Management Policies: Electronic Journals

Guidelines for the Selection of Library Periodicals and Collection Development Policy for Electronic Resources both apply to Electronic Journals.

In addition:
Electronic journals should have the following characteristics:

Readable print - at least as good as the print journal
Graphics should be of high resolution
Be available in PDF or other standard text browser
Multimedia aspects (sound, movement, etc) should display clearly with standard software

The publisher or aggregator should provide for:

Archival retention in electronic form of back volumes
Stability of URL
Cost of electronic journal either included with print cost, or available at same or lower price than print.
Mirror site
Technical support
No additional charge on part of aggregator to use their site

It is our preference that every contract should include the following:

Definition of USERS should mean whole campus community: students, faculty, staff, part-time or visiting faculty, and public patrons of library.
Scope of license should include searching; downloading; printing hard copy; citing material; using figures, excerpts and tables according to standard US Copyright guidelines.
Class B access (entire campus).

For sample licenses, standard agreement language, see the following web site: