From: "David N. Nelson" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:03:37 +0000

I came across some PCG (Publisher Communications Group) reports
recently while doing some specific research on several countries and
the state of their libraries.  I found their reports to not be
particularly useful, since the units that were being reported were too
large and it was then impossible to work effectively with their data.
I don't think the issue is so much that they don't publish their
results in peer reviewed journals -- there are many solid institutes
that publish extremely useful data and statistics who also don't
publish in such journals -- I'm just not quite sure what to make of
their data and I would agree that it isn't particularly transparent as
to how the data are gathered.   I was interested in some countries in
Asia and I have no idea if what they report comes from 2 libraries or
20 or 200 and where they are located

David Nelson
Walker Library
Middle Tennessee State University

-----Original Message-----

From: Anthony Watkinson <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 09:42:12 +0100

I have raised this question before and I do so again. I have nothing
against Primary Research Group. Unless you are a library taking part
in one of their surveys you have to buy the resulting report but the
prices (it seems to me) are quite reasonable.

However none of these reports are submitted for publication in
journals and exposed to peer review. As I know very well peer review
in information science is tough. Samples and methodology are looked at
closely and revision is normal. This is what academic research is all
about.

Libraries and publishers alike are exposed all the time to this sort
of report which may or may not be produced rigorously (how can one
tell?). The reports have an influence on general perceptions. I would
be interested in whether anyone else on this list is worried by the
proliferation of these reports

Anthony

-----Original Message-----

From: Primary Research Group <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 10:06:11 -0400

Primary Research Group Inc. (www.PrimaryResearch.com) is conducting a
survey of library database licensing practices.  The international
survey will give your library detailed benchmarking data about
purchasing, pricing, negotiating strategy, material preference trends,
copyright, eBook use models, use of consortia and many other issues in
database licensing. Survey participants receive a free copy of the
resulting report. The institutional names of respondents are listed
but responses are aggregated or otherwise not connected to particular
respondents.  To take the survey follow the link below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LibraryDatabaseLicensing2014

James Moses, Research Director
Primary Research Group Inc.
www.PrimaryResearch.com