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(Note from the Washington State Library: In order to participate in the Spring 2000 Washington State Databases Trial, each vendor was asked to address questions the Statewide Database Licensing Committee felt were most critical in order for library staff to evaluate products and vendors. Please contact the vendor's representative, listed below, for additional information on this product.)
1. Describe the database product(s). Include information on subject scope, percentage of full-text, dates of coverage, target audience (including age ranges), and how often the contents are updated.
INET Library
The INET Library from Inventive Communications is a five year old effort begun by a school superintendent to organize the Internet for k12 students and teachers. In an attempt to provide quick and easy access to research information on the web, and with a concern for the safety of the sites accessed, a team of educators has worked to produce the INET Library. Internet sites, now nearly 200,000, are hand read and added with the approval of an educator, with attention paid to state and national educational standards. Our search engine searches only our sites, providing a reasonably safe environment for students on the Internet, and we offer an optional "totally safe" INET that provides the INET environment without the problems of filters, but uses a strict filter if a student gets out of the INET Library. In addition to easy Internet access, the INET Library offers searchable online periodicals, an ask an expert site, and ratings for value and age appropriateness of each web site.
2. What are the hardware and software requirements for using all the features of the product?
The INET Library is available on any computer with Internet access.
3. Is remote access included for the subscription price? If there are additional charges or requirements in order to offer remote access, please describe. What methods of remote access are supported?
The pricing listed in question 9 will explain the remote access charges. Since the pricing is based on school size with a per student price in larger schools, it will increase with remote access. Again, any computer with Internet access can log on to the INET Library.
4. Please discuss any methods or assistance you offer regarding remote access patron verification and authentication.
Inventive Communications offers authorization two ways—through the customer’s IP’s or through a login and password. Once the account is set up in our internal protected database, the subscriber will see their name on the welcome page. Inventive Communications also offers a cookie, which must be enabled on each computer using the INET Library.
5. What end user delivery options, such as printing, emailing or faxing results, are available beyond just viewing results on the computer monitor?
Since the INET Library links directly to the Internet, sites are public domain so anything can be downloaded, printed, faxed or emailed.
6. What customer training is provided, and at what cost?
The INET Library is very easy to use and basically self-explanatory. If a school requests an inservice or demonstration we try to provide some on the site training, but that is seldom necessary. We do provide a packet of information with each subscription, a CD to load the INET icon on computers, and regular newsletters and updates about the INET Library and subscribers.
7. What customer and technical support is provided, including hours of operation.
We provide technical assistance during regular office hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 Central Time.
8. Describe the statistics you provide, and discuss whether your statistical reporting complies with guidelines developed by the International Coalition of Library Consortia which may be found at www.library.yale.edu/consortia/webstats.html .
Statistical information is gathered via our web based monitoring software. We gather bit ratios based on IP addressed or user machines. Number of visits are user specific per facility. Additional statistical information can be developed based on institutional needs, i.e.error recording per a specific IP address or site usage per specific IP address. With our priority service we can provide a significant increase in statistical information based on site visits, total hit ratios, and total files utilized. This would be developed specific to each IP address.
This statistical reporting process complies in part with the guidelines developed by the ICOLC. In ICOLC’s guidelines it states that "ICLOC is preparing a separate guideline on Technical Performance of web-based parameters (e.g. downtime, responsetime)." Inventive Communications will strive to become 100% compliant to these new guidelines once ICOLC publishes its version.
9. Describe your pricing structure or formula for the product. If there are additional costs for retrieving full text, describe the pricing for this service.
The annual subscription price for schools is based upon school enrollment. You may subscribe for an individual school or an entire district.
School Access School & Home Access Schools with <250 students $499 $5.00 / student 251-500 students $899 $4.75 / student 501 - 1,000 students $1,299 $4.50 / student 1,001 - 50,000 students $.80 / student $4.00 / student 50,001 - 100,000 students $.70 / student $3.50 / student 100,000+ students $.60 / student $3.00 / student
For the hypothetical libraries described to vendors with the trial questions:Library A: A high school library with 750 students in grades 9-12
School Access only: $1,299, School & Home Access: $4.50 per student
Library B: A public library that serves a population of 100,000 and has two branches
For public libraries we price the INET at 10% of the service population, so a library with 100,000 patrons would be priced at $10,000
Library C: A public library that serves a population of 20,000 and has only one building, no branches
10% of 20,000 would be a subscription price of $2,000
Library D: A community college library serving 5,000 full-time equivalent students
School Access only: $4,000, School & Home Access: $4.00 per student
Library E: A four-year academic library serving 5,000 full-time equivalent students
School Access only: $4,000, School & Home Access: $4.00 per student
Library F: A hospital library serving a hospital that employees 1,000 staff plus has 200 doctors attached to the hospital
Not applicable
With all of these hypothetical prices we would ask for information about number of computers and Internet users. With public libraries our prices vary somewhat. We would take into consideration numbers of computers with Internet access. We would potentially allow a per computer subscription price. There are other considerations for group buys or special pricing depending on the particular circumstances of the organization interested.
10. What is the minimum participation level (however you care to define it) that would be needed to allow participating libraries to receive a discount? What is the minimum discount for a group buy? Please clarify how you would treat existing library customers with regard to a group buy.
Group Discounts:
- 5-10 orders, 10%
- 11-20 orders, 15%
- 21+ orders, 20%
In the case of an existing library customer, we would work out an extension on their present subscription on a case by case basis.
11. Please indicate whether libraries from Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and/or Hawaii would be eligible to participate in the group buying process.
Libraries from Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii would be eligible to participate in the group buying process. They would simply need to notify us at the time of the subscription of their status.
12. Please provide name and contact information (toll-free telephone number, e-mail address, hours, etc.) should libraries wish to make further inquires.
Primary contact:
Cathy Blaser
toll-free, 888-411-4337, 8-5 CST
[email protected]Alternate contact:
Heather Sudbeck or any other inside sales representative
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