Hi,

We are looking at providing remote access to our electronic subscriptions to offsite users. I would appreciate some input from people who currently do this for their patrons. I am especially interested in responses from special libraries since we have a relatively small amount of offsite users. I am interested in the following:

- ease of upkeep (and initial implementation)

- cost

- ease of use for the end user

- what do you do with publications that don’t offer institutional access (do you add the passwords for a single user subscription?)

- how many publications do you provide access to in this way & how much staff time is involved in upkeep (ie is it a full time job or can upkeep be accomplished in a relatively small amount of time among other duties)

- is there a way to do this without buying a proxy server (if you use Inmagic Genie and there is a way to use that software to provide remote access to users I would especially like to hear from you!)

- if you have used two or more different products/methods, which do you like better/ what limitations have you noticed?

Please reply off-list.

Thanks!

Beth Vernaci

Library Assistant

AFSCME Information Center

American Federation of State, County

And Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

1625 L. Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

202-429-1057 phone

202-223-3255 fax

bvernaci@afscme.org