Statewide Database Licensing Project - Fall 2000 Trials
Salem Press

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(Note from the Washington State Library:  In order to participate in the Fall 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. 

MagillOnLiterature

Search the full contents of MasterplotsComplete CD-ROM 2000, plus the full contents of Magill's Literary Annual 1990-1999 editions, and Magill Book Reviews. The data included in MasterplotsComplete CD-ROM, 1999 Edition are the full-text contents of 23 sets of reference books (104 volumes = 14,253 essays, of which 12,1857 are on works of literature and 2,068 are author biographies = more than 20 million words = about 151 megabytes of all-text data) published by Salem Press, Inc., in its Masterplots line.

Masterplots, Second Revised Edition (1996, 12 vols.) Masterplots, Definitive Revised Edition (1976, 12 vols.) Masterplots: Revised Category Edition, American Fiction Series (1985, 3 vols.) Masterplots: Revised Category Edition, British Fiction Series (1985, 3 vols.) Masterplots: Revised Category Edition, European Fiction Series (1985, 3 vols.) Masterplots II: African American Literature Series (1994, 3 vols.) Masterplots II: American Fiction Series, Revised Edition (2000, 6 vols.) Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series (1987, 4 vols.) Masterplots II: Drama Series (1990, 4 vols.) Masterplots II: Juvenile and Young Adult Fiction Series (1991, 4 vols.) Masterplots II: Juvenile and Young Adult Biography Series (1993, 4 vols.) Masterplots II: Juvenile and Young Adult Literature, Supplement (1997, 3 vols.) Masterplots II: Nonfiction Series (1989, 4 vols.) Masterplots II: Poetry Series (1992, 6 vols.) Masterplots II: Poetry Series, Supplement (1998, 3 vols.) Masterplots II: Short Story Series (1986, 6 vols.) Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Supplement (1996, 4 vols.) Masterplots II: Women's Literature Series (1994, 6 vols.) Masterplots II: World Fiction Series (1987, 4 vols.) Cyclopedia of World Authors, Revised Third Edition (1997, 5 vols.) Cyclopedia of Literary Characters, Revised Third Edition (1998, 5 vols.)

Magill's Literary Annual, 1990-1999 (20 volumes) Magill Book Reviews, 1985-1999 (300-words reviews of more than 5,600 titles)

Included are:

Title-driven Critical Essays which survey works of literature in 1,500 to 2,500 words; title-driven entries of 300-word book review; title-driven essays providing extended-character descriptions in 500 to 2,000 words (Character Profiles); and author-driven essays (Author Biographies). All entries include ready-reference top matter, a text essay that is frequently divided into subsections, and a bibliography appends most entries.

Fields The data have been divided into eight different fields, designed to enhance searching ease and to provide maximum flexibility in accessing the data: Titles, Authors, Text (full text), Locale (of plot), Genre (of work), Subject (of plot), and Principal Characters.

The data is searchable by entering search terms and designating one or more of these fields to limit or expand the search. Initially, there will also be three indexes or browse lists available for searching: Author, Title, and Genre. In January, these indexes will be expanded to include lists for Locale, Subjwect, and Principal Characteers. Any search may be expanded to include full text.

The search and retrieval software is the easy-to-use EBSCOhost interface already widely in use in many libraries. Subscribers to other EBSCOhost products will enjoy the ability to expand their search across additional databases. For example, a subscriber to MagillOnLiterature and Academic Search Elite can search for information on Cormac McCarthy's novel All the Pretty Horses in MagillOnLiterature and Academic Search Elite. The search will retrieve hits on the essay about the Border Trilogy, of which the novel is the first of three, in Masterplots II: American Fiction Series, an essay on the title in Magill's Literary Annual, and various reviews and articles about the novel and the forthcoming movie from numerous periodicals available through Academic Search Elite.

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

Libraries will access MagillOnLiterature on EBSCOhost.

Minimum requirements for user interfaces: For the Character Cell client, users will need to be able to Telnet from a dumb terminal or terminal emulator package running on a PC (emulating VT100) over the Internet or direct TCP/IP connection to an address located at EBSCO Publishing. Login and password will be provided by EBSCO.

For the Windows-based client, users will need any IBM or PC compatible with a 486 CPU or better with 8MB RAM (16 MB recommended); 5 MB available hard disk space; MS-Windows version 3.1 or higher. (Note: if using Windows 3.1, station must be running in 386 Enhanced Mode.)

For the World Wide Web client, users will be able to search MagillOnLiterature with any PC, Mac, or networked workstation operating a web browser. EBSCOhost via the World Wide Web is supported by the following Web browsers: Netscape 4.0 or higher, Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher, and Lynx 2.6 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. Access is via a User ID/Password environment.

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

A library can choose one of five options to customize its user-authentication for access to MagillOnLiterature on EBSCOhost: Controlled IP Address Method; Controlled User ID Method; Customer Controlled Method; URL Referral Method; and Custom Patron ID Filtering Method.

  1. EBSCO Controlled IP Address Method: IP address authentication is currently the most popular method requested. A site provides us with a list of valid IP address, which is forwarded to EBSCO. They are entered into EBSCO's authentication tables and stored on EBSCO machines. If the subscription includes more than one location (library, branch, building, or campus), then the site may want to consider listing each location along with listing its own unique IP addresses. This will enable EBSCO to set up each location on its own individual account.
  2. EBSCO Controlled User ID Method: If a site is not able to utilize IP address authentication or is interested in remote access, then EBSCO will assign the site a User ID/Password. If a site's subscription allows for multiple locations, then EBSCO can provide each location with a unique User ID/Password for access.
  3. Customer Controlled Method: Available for sites with several hundred IP addresses. Sites using this method will be given a separate URL and FTP account and will need to create an ASCII file to be used as the authentication table. Changes can be made simply by sending a new file via FTP.
  4. URL Referral Method: This method may be utilized by sites already authenticating users on their end. Sites will need a script on their Web page that requires a user to login with the site's web server first before entering EBSCOhost and other paid services. Once logged into the site's system, the user is granted access to EBSCOhost.
  5. Custom Patron ID Filtering Method: Accommodates sites utilizing many patron Ids. Authentication is predicated upon the format of the Ids making large authentication tables unnecessary.

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

Users can select specific records for printing, downloading , or e-mailing and send the output to a local printer, networked printers, and e-mail address, or save the information to a desired drive and path. This applies to an entire article or a portion of an article.

6. What customer training is provided and at what cost? Please include "freebies" such as Web-based tutorials, end-user documentation tents, cheat-sheets, etc.

EBSCOhost software is easy-to-use and requires little training. Subscribers will receive a free, detailed EBSCOhost Quick Start Guide that clearly explains how to get started, customize the system, and navigate around the search screens. These Quick Start Guides are also available via PDF format through EBSCO Publishing's web site at www.epnet.com under the Technical Support section.

Most training needs will be met through the EBSCOhost Support Services on the Web. They contain basic assistance for first time users as well as administrative guidelines. They also provide valuable information from the manuals and other training materials. The Reference Center will instruct end-users and library staff on all features of the EBSCOhost including how to use keyword search. The Reference Center is available at www.epnet.com. It also contains downloadable reference manuals. Additional training can be scheduled upon request.

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

Customer service is provided by both Salem Press and EBSCO Publishing. Salem Press can provide answers to your questions about database content. You can telephone, fax, or e-mail your questions to us. We will respond within 24 hours. You can reach Salem Press Customer Service Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EST, at 800-221-1592, fax 201-968-1411, [email protected].

EBSCO Publishing's Technical Services Division provides support for EBSCOhost software via telephone, fax, e-mail, and the World Wide Web. Technical Support representatives are available Monday-Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST. They can be reached at 800-758-5995. E-mail can be sent to [email protected].

8. Please describe the statistics you provide and discuss whether your statistical reporting complies in part or in whole with the guidelines developed by the International Coalition of Library Consortia which may be found at http://library.yale.edu/consortia/webstats.html.

EBSCOhost provides the ability to track usage and provide statistical reports on any client/server communication. The library administrator has the ability to access and control all user configurations and generate reports automatically on-site. You can measure how often the database is searched, when it is searched, what data fields are most frequently searched, how many hits per search, and how many pages are browsed, printed or downloaded. Statistical reporting complies with the guidelines developed by the International Coalition of Library Consortia.

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.

List Price: $1250 annual subscription As an introductory offer Salem Press will offer a discounted price of $875 for participants in the Fall Database trials. An additional discount structure is available based upon the number of participating sites participating in an order:

# of Sites Annual Subscription Price

No limit to number of simultaneous users. Full-text retrieval is included.

10. If a library subscribes to any of your products as a result of this trial, will their future subscription rates continue to reflect any savings or discount they may receive today?

Yes, as long as the same number of sites are included in the renewal. We reserve the right to change our pricing system pending changes in the technology and marketplace.

11. What is 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? How will you treat existing library customers with regard to a group buy?

The pricing structure above addresses this question. To qualify for a multi-site discount, the participating sites must submit one order with the participating sites listed. This is the first year this database is offered so there are no existing subscribers.

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

Libraries qualify for the discount if they are sites of a library system, members of a consortium, or members of a purchasing group, and they are part of a single order submitted on a group order form or puchase order listing the multiple sites. Only one invoice will be issued to the entity listed on the purchase order to qualify for multisite discounts.

13. Please provide the name and contact information (toll-free telephone number, e-mail address, hours, etc.) for libraries to make further inquiries.

Wendy Aman
Salem Press Representative, Washington State
866-332-6657 toll free
425-957-0603 phone
425-410-9266 fax
[email protected] email

Customer Service Salem Press, New Jersey 9-5 est. 800-221-1592