From: "Wonsik \"Jeff\" Shim" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:55:38 +0900

Hi,

as we are all aware, most users think as if the subscription databases
are free. Indeed, from their point of view it is free of charge. For
many scholars, subscription databases provide efficient access to
literature familiar to them.  They turn to Google Scholar when
searches in those databases do not give them satisfactory results.
There will be a minority group of researchers who will use GS as a
first port of call for search, of course.

The real question is at what point the libraries will not be able to
bear the expenses in providing a free and protected shelter on behalf
of their users?

The cost of subscription databases will only go up whereas the GS
will, I suppose, remain free.

This list had a discussion on the topic of the sustainability of
fee-based databases in recent time. That discussion now is coupled
with users behaviors.

- Jeff Shim
Sungkyunkwan University
Seoul, Korea



2012/9/26 LIBLICENSE <[log in to unmask]>:
> From: Ken Masters <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:47:23 +0400
>
> Hi All:  Good question. The consensus seems to be that these other
> services are still better than Google Scholar, but are they THAT much
> better that justifies their cost? Do they deliver 'bang for buck'?
>
> Regards
>
> Ken