This is preprint of an article accepted for the July issue of College and Research Libraries. We saw it referenced on Gary Price’s INFOdocket and thought a number of you would be interested. Below is an abstract:
Give ‘em what they want: A One-year Study of Unmediated Patron-Driven Acquisition of E-Books
Abstract: In September 2009 the University of Iowa Libraries embarked on an experiment with patron driven acquisition (PDA) of e-books with ebrary and YBP. An e-book-only PDA plan was initiated, entirely unmediated and with instantaneous access to the content. MARC records were loaded for each title, determined by our YBP approval profile and other limitations, for a total of 12,000 PDA records. Usage, cost, subject, and publisher data were analyzed for 850 purchased PDA e-books and thousands of other ebrary subscription titles. Results indicate that PDA can be a useful and effective tool for meeting user needs and building the local collection, but the role of PDA in the library’s collection management program presents challenges as well as opportunities.
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One Response to ATG Article of the Week: Give ‘Em What They Want: A One-Year Study of Unmediated Patron-Driven Acquisition of E-Books
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I’m happy that the catchy title fudges a bit at the end of the precis. I’ll be wanting to read this–what the challenges and opportunities are. Some of us are not palms up (ancient Roman gesture for I want to buy that book)about PDA operational definition of “want”. I know some art and humanities professors who once convinced of the accuracy and utility of approval plans, delighted in hands off. PDA makes them hands on again. Yeah, it’s a different era, I guess. Take care, you may be PDA out of a job.