Statewide Database Licensing Project - Spring 2000 Trials
Facts on File News Service

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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.  

FACTS.com

FACTS.com delivers over 20 years of the full text of the authoritative Facts On File World News Digest, updated every week. A system of 500,000 internal hyperlinks interconnect 75,000 news stories from Facts On File with selected, related material from six other core reference database, including Issues and Controversies On File, Today's Science On File, Editorials On File and the World Almanac.

FACTS.com combines:

to provide quick answers to researchers' questions on world developments from 1980 through this afternoon.

World Almanac Reference Database

Announcing: The all-new World Almanac Reference Database @ FACTS.com

The World Almanac Reference Database is created especially for schools and libraries by World Almanac Books and Facts On File News Services. It's unlike any almanac product you've ever used - broader, deeper, easier to use, better looking and as current as today. Unlimited subscription access is available at FACTS.com, the Internet reference service "highly recommended" by five library trade journals

World Almanac Reference Database 
Library Journal rates The World Almanac� and Book of Facts as the #2 "Source for the Millennium" in its November 15, 1999 Reference 2000 supplement rankings. The new World Almanac Reference Database, created specifically for schools and libraries, makes the authoritative, comprehensive World Almanac even more useful by adding full-text searching, all new menu access, data from the World Almanac archives, and expanded topical content.

The Classic Resource, Expanded and Updated 

The World Almanac Reference Database is updated frequently to deliver currency not available anywhere else. The database also hyperlinks to related external sites and to information in other FACTS.com Reference Suite databases. For example, World Almanac statistics on AIDS link directly to coverage of advances in the fight against AIDS in the Facts On File World News Digest and Today's Science On File.

Almost every library depends on the World Almanac almost every day. With the World Almanac Reference Database as part of the FACTS.com Reference Suite, patrons, students and staff can use the expanded, updated database from any Internet terminal in the school or library and even from home!

 

 

2. What are the hardware and software requirements for using all the features of the product?

FACTS.com can be run from any Internet connected machine using Netscape 4.0 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher. Other contemporary browsers are also supported.

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?

Remote access is included in the subscription price. Libraries may choose authentication for remote access by ID/Password combinations or library card number authentication. (Authentication is done on the first 5 digits of library card).

ID/Password combinations employ cookies that allow subsequent authorization without using the ID/password.

4. Please discuss any methods or assistance you offer regarding remote access patron verification and authentication.

See response to #3.

5. What end user delivery options, such as printing, emailing or faxing results, are available beyond just viewing results on the computer monitor?

Unlimited printing, downloading and e-mailing of all material are available, subject to the capabilities of the user's browser. The 750 photographs and maps in FACTS.com cannot be re-used for commercial purposes.

6. What customer training is provided, and at what cost?

Facts.com is an extremely easy-to-use application with an extensive system of help. New subscribers receive tips on using the service. Help for content and use is also provided on-line and by telephone. for large district purchases, on-site training could possibly be provided. The cost would be the expenses of the trainer.

7. What customer and technical support is provided, including hours of operation.

Toll free technical support is available 9:30 to 5:00 Eastern Time, or by appointment. E-mail support is also available.

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 reporting will be available in Spring 2000. Details will be available at that time.

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. 

FACTS.com

Note from State Library staff:  This vendor elects to indicate pricing by describing what six hypothetical libraries would pay for the product.  (The six libraries were offered to all vendors as one way to explain their prices.)  Facts.com has also provided more detailed price information that is available by contacting either the State Library or the vendor's representative.  The prices described below are discounted from the vendor's normal list prices.

Library A- A high school library with 750 students in grades 9-12 is priced as 1 site (schools) @ $995 

Library B- A public library that serves a population of 100,000 and has two branches is priced as 3 sites = $2,518.56 (total w/ Washington Discount) - Special pricing consideration is given to smaller branches. 

Library C- A public library that serves a popluation of 20,000 and has only one building, no branches is priced as 1 site = $1,080 (total w/ Washington Discount) 

Library D- A community college library serving 5,000 full-time equivalent students is priced as 1 site = $1,080

Library E- A four-year academic library serving 5,000 full-time equivalent sutdents is priced as 1 site= $1,080

Library F- A hospital library serving a hospital that employees 1,000 staff plus has 200 doctors attached to the hospital is priced the same as college FTE pricing and would be $1,080.

World Almanac Reference Database

THIS DATABASE IS AVAILABLE TO THE WASHINGTON STATE DATABASE PROJECT PARTICIPANTS AT THE FOLLOWING PRICES: 

Current FACTS.com subscribers,  $100 per site 
Non-FACTS.com subscribers,  $145 per site

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.

All Washington libraries are entitled to the Washington discount, as indicated above, with no minimum number of customers required.  If 25 or more libraries of a single type (e.g., public, school) buy, the discount will increase. 

Existing library customers will be entitled to further discounts on new products.

11.  Please indicate whether libraries from Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and/or Hawaii would be eligible to participate in the group buying process.

Our special discounts apply only to libraries located in Washington State.

12.  Please provide name and contact information (toll-free telephone number, e-mail address, hours, etc.) should libraries wish to make further inquires.

Louise Hayden
800-363-7976, ext. 613
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
[email protected] 

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