Center For Research Libraries Expands News Coverage for Members

From the Center for Research Libraries:

In a recent message to CRL library directors, Bernie Reilly reported that CRL has begun to explore with a few large aggregators providing “end-to end” coverage [historic and current news content, digitized newspapers as well as born-digital news content] to researchers at CRL libraries. The recent CRL offers of several key news databases from Readex are a step in that direction: they provide favorable terms for access to a range of historic and current news content.
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In the interest of ensuring all CRL libraries long-term access to the databases they invest in, CRL is currently in discussions with Readex about archiving arrangements. Possibilities include CRL holding an archive of the digital files and metadata; deposit of those files and metadata in a trusted digital repository; and archiving of the digital materials by Readex under an arrangement audited by CRL. More news about a sustainable archiving plan will be available in the near future.
CRL is also exploring the possibility of obtaining group pricing from ProQuest for ProQuest Newsstand (i.e., current news) and ProQuest Historical Newspapers products. CRL asks its members to respond to a survey of interest for these products, which will help shape the terms of the offer to be posted later this year.

Read the Complete CRL Announcement, Learn More About Seven Readex Databases
From Bernie Reilly’s Letter to CRL Members About “End-to-End” Coverage (October 1, 2012):

We want to achieve two things.  First, we want researchers at CRL institutions to have electronic access to more newspapers and news content.  And this needs to be affordable in a time of stressed library budgets.
Second, we want to improve the terms upon which publishers make electronic news content available.  This means not just lower prices but better features and functionality, like text mining and analysis capabilities, credible archiving, exposure of metadata, and so forth

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Companies (Publishers/Vendors), Funding, Libraries, News, Open Access