Hello Lucy,

We are adding a number of "free" or "O/A" titles to our Electronic Journals Page.  There are a number of criteria we use in determining if it should be added.

As we are a medical library supporting research, educational and clinical missions, our titles may be a bit more broader than yours.  The criteria we use (not in any particular order and judgement is always a  factor)

1.  Is it indexed currently (or in the past) by one of the index databases we currently have. Our Main ones are Index Medicus, CINAHL for Nursing, PsychInfo for psychology, EBM (evidence-based Medicine Reviews) are just some.

2. Other quality index/databases such as Elsevier's Excerpta Medica, Chem. Abstracts etc. and others like Google Scholar (AGHHH!!) which may be available to our users through other means.  I also say in the past for IM (Criterial # 1) had indexed a number of journals from India then dropped them.  Some are now being indexed again and databases like Excerpta Medica are indexing some of those among others.  Thomson ISI Recently announced that Journal Citation Reports have added a number of "regional publications"

3. How diverse is the editorial board and what are the qualifications of some of the article editors/reviewers?
  I take a look to first see if it is peer reviewed, look at the location, professional credentials, and at times the articles published by some of the reviewers. If an outside U.S. publication, are there local U.S. reviewers to assist authors wishing to publish?  If regional (South America, Africa, India, etc) does it appear to be a majoror significant publication of that region. Also, are many or all of the articles in English. [unfortunately, I believe that while many worthwhile publications are in other languages, researchers will tend to look to their primary language instead of waiting for a sufficient technical translation and here it is english.]

4.  Is the subject matter something that some faculty member may be currently doing research on? Again, if possible look at the researcher to see if (s)he is familiar with another language.  If such a specific subject area, contact the researcher to see if it is of use to them.

5. How likely do you think it might be for that journal to be cited by articles in quality journals in your area? Now or in the near future?

It is our responsibility to locate those QUALITY "free" or "O/A" titles and to provide links to make them available to our users.  To paraphrase what our Reference Librarians say during orientation, "You may have "Searched the Web" to find information for your class papers, but would you trust a physician to diagnosis and treat you or your child using those same search techniques and criteria?

With Best Regards,

John Lucas

Serials Librarian
University of Mississippi Medical Center
2500 North State St
Jackson, MS 39216-4505

(PH) (601) 984-1277
(FAX)  ( 601) 984-4569
JLUCAS@ROWLAND.UMSMED.EDU

>>> Lucy Wrightington <lxw08@HEALTH.STATE.NY.US> 8/26/2008 7:56 AM >>>
(Please excuse cross-postings.)

What protocols are people using for including free titles in your
electronic journal lists?
We want to be selective about these and would like to hear what others are
doing.
Thanks,

Lucy Wrightington, Senior Librarian
Dickerman Library
Wadsworth Center, N.Y. State Dept. of Health
Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12201

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