Gale, part of Cengage Learning and a publisher of research and reference resources for libraries, schools and businesses, has announced an innovative new purchase option – a Usage-Driven Acquisition (UDA) model – for its Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) e-book platform. Unlike options currently offered by other e-book providers, this new purchase model will allow libraries to purchase e-books based on actual usage, allowing libraries to perform evidence-based collection development. GVRL delivers reference content and series non-fiction titles to all types of libraries.
Customers interested in the UDA model will make an upfront deposit (minimums apply) and will get complete access to the full line of Gale and Gale imprint e-titles, roughly 2,000 titles, for six months. At the end of the six month period, e-books with the greatest usage will be automatically added permanently to the library’s GVRL collection and deducted from the library’s initial deposit. As with GVRL’s traditional purchase model, once an e-book is purchased, libraries have unlimited, simultaneous use of the title. Gale is also working directly with third party publishers to incorporate their titles into this program.
Named ‘Best Overall Database’ by the readers of Library Journal magazine in 2012, GVRL offers user-friendly features such as an interface available in more than 30 languages, ReadSpeaker technology (text-to-speech functionality) for 19 languages, article translation capability, a multi-page viewer for a traditional book-like experience, and the ability to download articles as PDFs to e-readers or MP3 players for offline access. Gale also offers free promotional help including advertising and search tools for embedding within the library website, MARC records and other customisable marketing resources.
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