eBook Platforms

NetLibrary

Platform Name

NetLibrary

Address

OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
6565 Kilgour Place
Dublin, Ohio 43017-3395 USA
800-848-5878

URL

http://www.netlibrary.com

Contact Email

g.miller@oclcpica.org

Contact Tel

0121-456-4656

Titles

http://www.netlibrary.com/titleselect/

Summary

NetLibrary the world's premier providers of eBooks with more than 450 leading publishers and 160,000 monograph titles available. Libraries purchase and own titles and may execute their purchase on a title-by-title basis or they may purchase collections focused on specific subject areas and developed by NetLibrary librarians.

In November 2005 NetLibrary became the first eContent platform to offer more than 100,000 full-text eBook titles.
Strong subject relevance, which can be highlighted in a recent review of 16 Tomlinson's Nursing & Midwifery Core Books for Collection Development; which matched over 135 existing NetLibrary titles listed within the guide.
Simple, easy to use interface

Key Features include:
Searches beyond traditional indexes to provide comprehensive, high-value results based on the entire content of the collection.

Automatic Summarization. Enables users to find the materials they are looking for quickly by providing a brief summary of eContent through the search results.

Search Term Spell Checking. Automatically runs a check of the spelling of a query term and recognizes commonly misspelled words and offers alternative spellings.

Search within Search. Users can narrow search results by entering an additional search term or terms to drill down to relevant content.

Concept Recommendations. Recognizes ambiguous search terms and provides recommendations for refining queries.

Search History. NetLibrary's new search technology keeps track of past queries during a session and allows users to easily return to search results.

Improved Query Performance. Query response will match performance indicators of leading web search engines, typically offering response times of two seconds or less regardless of the search term or type of search.

User Personalization Features, users can save information on search and language preferences as well as mark items as favorites and leave unlimited notes within each content item.

Administrative Features
Comprehensive authentication options including IP recognition, secure referring URL, user name and password, and EZproxy which is integrated with leading ILS systems, including SIRSI.

Robust reporting facilitating collection development decisions, user management and circulation policies.

Collection development tools

Full MARC Records are included at no additional charge

Content

Business Models

NetLibrary's pricing model consists of two components: Content and Content Service and Support Fees

Content: The price of each book is set by the publisher and typically reflects the publisher's set retail print copy price.

Content Service and Support Fees: Covers costs to host, maintain, and serve a library’s collection, branded to reflect their identity. It also includes NetLibrary’ s proprietary search functionality, enhancements and upgrades to the NetLibrary site functionality, library and patron support, marketing support, etc. Content Service and Support Fees are computed in one of two ways, selected by the library:

Annual Fee; 15% of the retail cost of the content. In this instance, access to the content ends 12 months after first ordered. This approach supports access to content that may change often or works for libraries that have an interest in changing portions of their collection annually.

After 5 annual access payments of 15%, annual access fee payments stop and access switches to ongoing access.

Ongoing Prepaid; 55% of the retail cost of the content, paid one time.

Licensing Models

Licensing Models are addressed above.

Access Control

Authentication

• Username/Password
• IP Address
• Classic Athens
• SAML Compliant (e.g. Shibboleth)
• Referring URL
• EZ Proxy

Concurrency Limit

Concurrent use of content is dependent on the content itself. NetLibrary offers a number of models for content access from unlimited simultaneous use to a single simultaneous user.

Restrictions

No further restrictions exist.

Notes

Shibboleth and a large number of additional authentication methods are supported through NetLibrary's integration with EZproxy. A complete list can be found at: http://www.usefulutilities.com/support/usr/

Search

Features

• Advanced Search
• Boolean AND
• Boolean NOT
• Boolean OR
• Exact Phrase
• Keywords
• Search by Author
• Search by Title
• Search by Full Text
• Search by ISBN
• Search by Date
• Search by Metadata
• Simple Search
• Spell Check
• Search History
• Wildcards
• Search Only Subscribed Content
• Search All Titles

Indexing

• Library of Congress

Cross Database Search

Cross database search is not supported. All NetLibrary materials are contained in a single database.

Web Search

A search interface to the leading web search engines is available in the eBook reader. Searches conducted here open a new browser window containing the selected search engine, the query and the search results.

Saved Searches

Searches conducted during a session are saved and readily available as part of the search interface as links. Clicking the link to previous search automatically runs the search again.

Search Tips

Help in effective searching is provided in a number of ways. The help system contains information on the various levels of search functionality available, indexes, the use of various types of operators and manipulating the results. A rotating "search tip" is also provided as part of the Basic Search interface. This tip changes each time the user returns to the screen.

Search Other Content

Searches run against content that is integrated and indexed on the NetLibrary platform. This includes electronic books, electronic audio books and electronic journals. Authenticated external links to specialized databases are also available.

Search Results

Functionality

• Deduplication
• Include Abstracts

Ordering

The default order of the search results is rank of the item relative to the search term based on the type of search run. Users can select different sort criteria including title, author, newest to oldest and oldest to newest.

Presentation

Search results include item title, author, publisher and publication date. Text is also included as a part of the results. The text may be an abstract of the item, a summary of the item provided by the publisher or in the case of full-text searches, the most passage from the content most relevant to the search.

Selecting Results

The results can be printed and items contained in the list can be saved to a "favorites" area one at a time.

Exporting

• Email

eBook Navigation

Presentation

The NetLibrary eBook reader contains the full text display as well as a full, clickable table of contents. The reader also includes features that allow the user to conduct full-text searches within a book, conduct searches using leading search engines, save unlimited notes and bookmarks.

Links

• Figure links
• Table links
• Graphic links

Restrictions

• Copy
• Print
• DRM used

Other Functionality

Linking

• Title Linking
• MARC linking
• Open URL/Persistent URL

Help Information

http://www.netlibrary.com/Help/Default.aspx. This is the link to the main page of the help system. The system is available from anywhere in the site.

Training

OCLC offers extensive training through our Effective Use Programs. A number of always-available web presentations are available as well.

Interface Customisation

Libraries can customize the interface by adding up to two images that will be displayed to patrons.

Alerting

Email alerts are available to users that request to be notified when new items become available through the NetLibrary TitleDirect service; http://www.netlibrary.com/titledirect

A monthly email of new titles added to the collection over the last 30 days is also sent out. Customers can also request a customised list based on subjects of interest.

Software Updates

Software is generally updated on a four-week cycle. Since NetLibrary is web-based there is no impact on users during the upgrade process.

Usage Stats

• Available Online

Metadata

• MARC
• Integration with Catalogues for MARC records

Technical Integration

NetLibrary is integrated with EZproxy single sign on. Use of federated search engines is allowed. WebFeat and Serials Solutions are known to have operating connectors.

VLE Integration

Information not provided

Social Bookmarking

Information not provided

Language Support

The Netlibrary interface is avaialble in ten languages; English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (traditional and Simplified), Thai and Dutch

Other

Information not provided

Accessibility

W3C Compliance

The site is continually audited for compliance to W3C and other standards such as Section 508 of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Browser Compatibility

NetLibrary is compatible usable on a wide array of Browsers and operating systems. All leading browsers are supported.

Plugins Required

Adobe Reader version 4.0 or higher is required for some eBooks. No other plugins are required for eBooks.

Availability & Uptime

24/7 Uptime

Yes.

Downtime (as specified in service level agreements)

Maintenance and upgrades to the NetLibrary platform are implemented without the causing the system to become unavailable. Scheduled downtime for maintenance purposed is not required.

Mirror Sites

The primary site is located in Boulder, Colorado, USA and a mirror exists in Dublin, Ohio, USA.