Acquisition Criteria

Acquisition Criteria: Metrics Focus Group (April 2010)

This is a summary of the findings of the metrics focus group with project SMEs in April 2010.

Essential Requirements

Informed acquisition decisions have two essential requirements:

1. Standard data elements for comparable material types
2. For networked electronic resources, counts based on IP addresses for:
   • Specific pages and collections accessed
   • Specific files/materials retrieved

Selection Criteria

1. Broadness of applicability
   • Scope or breadth of material coverage to serve the “broadest possible group of users”
   • Promotes buy-in from multiple departments
2. Usage Data
   • Generally vendor provided
   • Vendor compliance with standards needed
3. Number of titles
   • A measure of the volume or amount of materials
4. Unique Content
   • Number of unique items in the archive, that is, materials not available elsewhere
5. Duplicate Content
   • The “titles” (or materials) in the existing collection that are duplicated
6. Appropriateness for Collection
   • Particularly in regard to the degree of “completeness” needed for in a particular subject

Metrics that Drive Acquisitions

• Selection Decisions: Usage data (when available)
• Retention Decisions: Cost per use

ARL SPEC Kit 316: Evaluating E-resources (July 2010)

Reference: Richard Bleiler & Jill Livington. (July 2010). ARL SPEC Kit 316: Evaluating E-resources. [1]

Survey of 124 ARL member institutions in Feb/Mar 2010. Response rate was 59% (N = 73). Measured the criteria libraries use to evaluate e-resources for acquisition (purchasing/licensing) and renewal. The criteria were measured for both consortia and individual library decisions. Overall, findings were the same for both.

Selection Criteria:

1. Deal Breaker
   1. Cost
   2. Compatibility with existing library systems (NOTE: Distant second)
2. Most Highly Rated
   • Uniqueness/completeness of content
   • Relevance to faculty research
   • Anticipated usage rate
   • User-friendly interface
3. Least Important
   • E-resource's potential accessibility through mobile devices

Renewal Criteria:

1. Deal Breaker
   1. Cost
2. Most Highly Rated
   • Uniqueness of content
   • Relevance to current curriculum & faculty research
   • Inflation history
   • Cost per use (NOTE: Only for consortia)