From: Center for Research Libraries
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:15:09 -0500


CRL Working with CRKN, JISC
Jan 23 2012
Contact: Bernie Reilly - [log in to unmask]

Senior staff from CRL, the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN),
and the Joint Information Steering Committee of the Higher Education
Funding Council, UK (JISC Collections) recently met to explore the
special challenges of licensing and acquiring primary source
electronic resources. The conversation focused on major databases of
government information and archives, news, financial, demographic and
geospatial information, and humanities and social science materials in
non-English languages. The participants discussed the respective
priorities and unmet needs of the three organizations with regard to
acquiring vital but costly research databases.

CRL, CRKN, and JISC Collections agreed to combine their expertise and
resources to improve access to major humanities and social science
databases, and to work together to better support their respective
national and regional research priorities and strategies. The group
concluded that international collaboration on licensing and on tools
for related decision-making is both essential and doable. Next steps
will include the mapping of common national-level needs, assessments
of key major databases, and a possible pilot for joint licensing. CRL
will continue to post announcements as this exciting partnership
develops.

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