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TEXAS REFERENCE SOURCES PROJECT

REPORT TO THE RRT EXECUTIVE BOARD
ON THE TEXAS REFERENCE SOURCES
MAY 2002 EMAIL SURVEY

TLA Annual Assembly
21-23 July 2002
Austin, Texas

SURVEY TEXT 

I need your advice!  In preparing the next edition of Texas Reference Sources, a few issues 
need resolution.  Please indicate your preferences for the following options:

1.	Publication format:  (rank 1-3 in order of preference, 1=most preferred)
	__ Web (HTML) only (open access)
	__ Print only
     	__ Both Web and Print 

2.	Would your library purchase a print copy?
	If print only  __Yes  __No  __Maybe
	If web and print  __Yes  __No  __Maybe
	Type of library: __Academic  __Public  __School  __Other

3.	Should prices for available items be included in an entry?
	__Yes  __No  __No preference

Thank you for your advice!

John C. Hepner
General Editor
Texas Reference Sources

RESPONSES TO TRS EMAIL SURVEY

Survey sent 6 May 2002, 10 a.m. to newsletter email directory addresses. Responses received by 21 June 2002.

1.  Publication format:  (rank 1-3 in order of preference, 1=most preferred)

	    			1	2        3
	Web (HTML) only	       17      23	28
	Print only	        7      24       31
	Both Web and Print     60      13        4

2.  Would your library purchase a print copy?

	If print only	 
		Yes    51
		No	1
		Maybe  21

	If web and print
		Yes    37
		No      7
		Maybe  32

	Type of library:
		Academic  41
		Public	  31
		School     5
		Other	   7

3.  Should prices for available items be included in an entry?

	Yes		60
	No		11
	No Preference	11

TOTAL RESPONSES: 84


NOTES:
	2 additional responses were blank
	Some respondents did not answer all questions.

COMMENTS 

GENERAL:

"Since I am at the Engineering Library, my responses are of only relative
value, but I can not resist sharing my thoughts.  The purchase decision would
not be with me so I can not say what would be purchased.  A free web version
would be great to use."

QUESTION 1:

"Both Web and Print **TO REACH WIDER AUDIENCE***"

QUESTION 2:

"MY LIBRARY IS PRIMARILY A VIRTUAL LIBRARY"
"It really depends on the content of the material - its authority, accuracy and presentation
rather than if it is print or Web based.  The next consideration would be cost."  
"***depends on price***"
"The reference supervisors choose all of the ref bks, and the electronic resources committee
chooses web materials; I'm neither, so I don't know." 
"It being on the web for free probably would not dissuade us from wanting one on hand."
"depends on demand & price"

QUESTION 3:

"that either no price or a range key be used."
"Prices change too much"
"Prices change too rapidly."
"Prices would probably date the book too quickly"
"We'd have to check our suppliers for prices and discounts, anyway."
"PRICES CHANGE TOO OFTEN and/or ITEMS GO O.P.; ADDRESS/EMAIL of PUBLISHER would help" 
"(TOO MUCH WORK)"

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Last Modified: March 2007