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