Working with Database and E-Journal Vendors to Ensure Quality for End Users

Abstract

This chapter describes how the California Digital Library (CDL) supports the thousands of electronic journals, databases, collections and reference works that are licensed by CDL on behalf of the ten campuses of the University of California (UC). Three key components are vital to the success of this activity: the involvement of librarians at all the campuses to monitor and evaluate UC’s electronic resources; CDL’s internal processes for working with vendors; and CDL’s requirements documents which emphasize both technical standards and best practices. By sharing these processes and documents, the authors hope to provide a foundation for developing practices to work successfully with vendors and ensure quality for library patrons.