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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.
Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated
Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated provides coverage of more than 72,000 figures from antiquity to the present. Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated contains the complete contents of Current Biography Yearbooks 1940 to present, Junior Authors and Illustrator, Nobel Prize Winners, World Artists, American Reformers and many other quality biographical publications. It also provides hotlinks to related full-text articles, article abstracts, and index citations from over 4000 periodicals. The user can search by keywords, date of birth, profession, place of origin, gender, ethnic background or any combination. This database now has more than 26,000 images of those profiled.
Target Audience: public, academic, high school, middle school, special/corporate libraries
Updates: Updated annually; future updates monthly.
2. What are the hardware and software requirements for using all the features of the product?
To access Wilson Databases on WWW, the system needs Internet access using Netscape 3.0 or higher or MS Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher.
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. The following methods of remote authentication are available: validation of library cards/bar codes, HTMO referrer, proxy server links, and password/id’s.
4. Please discuss any methods or assistance you offer regarding remote access patron verification and authentication.
There are several options which are available to our WilsonWeb customers.
Library patron barcode or ID accesses the library system as a gateway to WilsonWeb access. The authentication would occur before the patron is passed through the gateway on the library system side of the process. Then the library’s IP address, or a range of IP address, would be used to authorize incoming search requests. Alternatively, if the library has a secure Web page, the IP address of the Web page could be used to authorize incoming search requests.
Proxy Server as described below:
Library Web page access: WilsonWeb allows access through the library’s web page. The IP address of the library’s web page would be used to authorize access of incoming search requests. The library would be responsible for authenticating users who access the library’s web page i.e., the library would have a secure web page.
Library system access: WilsonWeb can be accessed by libraries with local automated library systems. This could be accomplished by setting up the OPAC system to be a gateway. In a possible scenario, the OPAC menu would display an option for WilsonWeb. When a user selects the option, the OPAC system accesses a scripted file that would start up a Netscape application. The ID/PW required for access to the WilsonWeb would be included in the script file so the use would not be aware of it. Alternatively, an IP address of the library’s server could be registered for authorized access.
5. What end user delivery options, such as printing, emailing or faxing results, are available beyond just viewing results on the computer monitor?
The end user delivery options, such as printing or emailing results are available beyond just viewing results on the computer monitor.
6. What customer training is provided, and at what cost?
WilsonWeb has been designed to present the user interface with clear, concise screen displays in a graphical, Windows or Windows-like format. The WilsonWeb search engine provides simple, command oriented searching. These features, in addition to the context sensitive help, which is available at any point in a search, mean that minimal instruction or documentation is needed for an end user to execute a successful search.
Besides WilsonWeb's user friendly interface, extensive help messages are imbedded in the product. In addition, a "Quick Reference Guide" (QRG) is resident on the Wilson Home Page. The QRG provides instructions and documentation on the basic features of WilsonWeb. It is updated frequently and has been designed for easy downloading to a local workstation. The QRG information is also available in an abbreviated format on a card for use beside the workstation and would be an ideal accompaniment to a training session.
Finally, tech support can answer questions regarding searching and functionality of the WilsonWeb software. This support and those listed above are provided at no charge.
7. What customer and technical support is provided, including hours of operation.
Customer service is available from 8:30 – 6:00pm (Eastern Time) at 800-367-6770
Technical support is available from 8:30 – 6:00pm (Eastern Time) at 888-648-9474
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 complies in part with the guidelines developed by the International Coalition of Library Consortia. The current WilsonWeb report includes the name of the institution, number of searches and number of records downloaded, by database, for the current month, last month, and year-to-date. Reports can be produced by databases; by community of interest entity-defined IP addresses; by community of interest type and by total of all community of interest types; by special element passed by community of interest entity; and by time period.
Presently the available reports are generated monthly by the company and provided to customers in hard-copy format or via e-mail upon request. We are also evaluating the most efficient manner by which to make the reports available in electronic format. WilsonWeb reports are in a continued state of development. We are using requirements of our customers as the basis for enhancements to the reporting functionality.
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.
There is no additional cost for retrieving full text. Our pricing structure is based on number of site(s) and number of simultaneous users. A chart of pricing by simultaneous user and by market is provided. The chart is based on one site. Network pricing and shared user pricing is available upon request.
Academic/Special Market
| Database | 1 SU | 2-4 SU | 5-8 SU | 9-12 SU | 13-20 SU |
| Wilson Bios + Illus | $1346 |
$2019 |
$2355 |
$3028 |
$4037 |
For Unlimited Access, divide the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) students by 2,000 to calculate the recommended Simultaneous User Level. For example, an institution with an FTE of 6,000 would fall in the 2-4 SU range.
Public/Community College Market
Database 1 SU 2-4 SU 5-8 SU 9-12 SU 13-20 SU Wilson Bios + Illus $1346
$1628
$2019
$2354
$2691
For Public Library Unlimited Access, divide the library’s Population Served number by 20,000 to calculate the recommended Simultaneous User level. For example, a library with a population served figure of 60,000 would fall in the 2-4 SU range for the Main Library price. Add 10% of the single user price for each branch library.
For Community College Unlimited Access, divide the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) students by 2,000 to calculate the recommended Simultaneous User Level. For example, an institution with an FTE of 6,000 would fall in the 2-4 SU range.
K-12 Market
Database 1-4 SU 5-8 SU 9-12 SU 13-16 SU
17-20 SU Wilson Bios + Illus $1076
$1184
$1291
$1399
$1506
The prices listed in the charts above are the maximum a library would have to pay for 1 site and the appropriate number of SU (simultaneous users). In addition, volume discounts could further reduce the price.
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.
There is no minimum participation level needed to allow participating libraries to receive a discount. Likewise, there is no minimum discount for a group buy. In addition to the discounted prices listed above, H.W. Wilson will also be willing to negotiate volume discounts if the demand warrants it.
Existing customers of this databases may receive a prorated credit for any unused portion of their subscription if the pricing offered through the state wide trial is less than their purchase price.
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/or Hawaii would be eligible to participate in the group buying process.
12. Please provide name and contact information (toll-free telephone number, e-mail address, hours, etc.) should libraries wish to make further inquires.
Terry Austin, Sales Representative 800/367-6770, ext. 2275 or [email protected]
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