Collection Development Policy: Ebooks
UW-Parkside Library primarily provides access to e-books through aggregators such as ProQuest, Ebsco, and Springer. In rare cases, the library will purchase a single e-book for a class if it is requested by the instructor and matches the curriculum of the course. In those cases, the e-book must meet the following criteria.
Discoverability
- E-book provides simultaneous access to an unlimited number of users.
- E-book is accessible to UW-Parkside faculty, staff, and students through on-campus and remote access. It will also be available via walk-in access to community members.
- It is preferred that the vendor’s records are available in the Alma NZ or CZ, or MARC records can be provided in a timely manner.
- Vendor has an active, updated stanza within EZProxy for off-campus proxying.
Functionality
- E-book platform supports IP authentication including proxying or authentication via single sign-on.
- Content is accessible across a variety of devices and browsers (e.g. mobile-responsive).
- Users are able to easily navigate among chapters and move between endnotes/footnotes/bibliography and main text.
- E-book platform provides means to support assistive technologies per University accessibility policies.
- DRM-free e-books are strongly preferred.
Ownership
- E-book should be available in perpetuity and not leased.
- E-book cost is aligned with the average print monograph cost within that discipline.
- Provider can provide usage statistics on a regular basis.
Updated 5/2021
