[LIBRARYDIR] Some issues with Newsbank from another perspective

[Bem, Greg]

Hey all,

I just wanted to forward this to you since some of you are considering Newsbank. Turns out there are some issues that KCLS has raised that kept them from selecting Newsbank as one of their databases. From Samantha Everett, the Vendor Relations Manager:

KCLS is aware of the free trial of Newsbank through the Washington State Library and we declined to participate for a few reasons.  The vendor, Newsbank, could not give us online accessibility information and every resource we add must have some kind of accessibility or plan for development.
https://kcls.org/accessibility/

[...]

We also felt the contract was really restrictive in terms of interlibrary loan and the sharing of documents.  It also had some other restrictive contract language about which library card users could use it, etc.

As a workaround for patrons who really want to access Newsbank we refer them to get a free ecard through the Washington State Library (any resident of WA State can sign up for one) or use their reciprocal Seattle Public Library card, etc.

I think the accessibility piece is worth following up on. I imagine Newsbank may have updated their stance toward accessibility since not getting KCLS as a customer, and obviously we all too are concerned with accessibility plans. I have not had that convo with Carla yet-has anyone else?

Greg

Greg Bem, MLIS
Professor and Library Coordinator
Library Learning Commons
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Pronouns: he/him/his

Contact Info
greg.bem at lwtech.edu<mailto:greg.bem at lwtech.edu%0d>
425-739-8100 xt.8898
http://www.lwtech.edu/campus-life/library

2019-2020 Vice President of Local 3533, LWTech's Faculty Union!

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/librarydir_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20191028/33bb1b9f/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 92 bytes
Desc: image001.gif
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/librarydir_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20191028/33bb1b9f/attachment.gif>