Factors Affecting End-User Charges for On-Line Bibliographic Information Retrieval Services in Public Libraries

This essay presents an outline of the elements that need to be considered with regard to the question of end-user fees for online information retrieval services in British public libraries. The points are culled from many sources, including the experience of the United States, talks with online work...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author Oulton, A. J
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Learned Information, Ltd 1979
Subjects
Cost Effectiveness
Fees
Foreign Countries
Great Britain
Information Retrieval
Information Services
Information Systems
Online Systems
Opinions
Public Libraries
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:This essay presents an outline of the elements that need to be considered with regard to the question of end-user fees for online information retrieval services in British public libraries. The points are culled from many sources, including the experience of the United States, talks with online workers, and, in particular, discussions in the Working Party of the Bibliographical Information Retrieval Online Service (BIROS) Project. Factors addressed are political influences, the value of information and online services, the legal position of free public libraries, types of costs and charges, and discriminatory charges and implications of charging. Examples of the policy and practice of libraries in the British Library Research and Development Department's projects are given. (FM)