Gale Launches Usage-Based Purchase Model For E-Books
FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) -- The information and database provider Gale Wednesday introduced a new purchase option called Usage-Driven Acquisition for its Gale Virtual Reference Library e-book system.
Gale said the new purchase model will allow libraries to purchase e-books based on actual usage, allowing libraries to perform evidence-based collection development. Gale also said it was unlike purchase models offered by other e-book providers.
"The nature of e-book acquisition has changed considerably over the years and we have explored a number of models with customers in the past which have led us to today's announcement," said Nader Qaimari, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Gale. "We want to expose more customers to the great learning and research opportunities offered by GVRL, and introducing this unique purchase model allows our customers to experience the platform with little risk and also enables them to make smart purchasing decisions that they can feel comfortable are meeting the direct needs of their user base."
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 customizable marketing resources.
For more information on Gale Virtual Reference Library and the UDA purchase model, please visit www.gale.cengage.com/gvrl? or http://assets.cengage.com/pdf/fb-gvrl-pdmodel-onesheet.pdf.
