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K-State Today

September 19, 2011

New libraries' subscriptions increase access to popular journals

Submitted by Donna Ekart

A recent subscription by K-State Libraries will dramatically improve access to journal titles published electronically on the Science Direct/SciVerse platform. The Freedom Collection, a package of more than 1,600 titles, adds value to the investment the libraries have already made in that platform with individual title subscriptions. Titles in the collection include those from the sciences as well as a selection of humanities and social sciences disciplines. 

“The libraries are excited to be able to offer this expanded access to the K-State community,” said Marcia Stockham, assistant dean for collection management and scholarly communications. “Strategic use of our acquisitions budget for projects such as this is both immediately valuable to campus and ultimately supportive of the 2025 visionary plan.”

The decision to subscribe to the Freedom Collection was partially based on analysis of interlibrary loan requests to find those journals most often requested by K-State faculty, staff, and students. Paying a flat rate for access to those titles has two benefits. First, it will allow K-State researchers direct, immediate access to articles rather than needing to request an interlibrary loan. Second, it will free up a portion interlibrary loan funds and staffing time to be reallocated more strategically.

Many of the newly accessible titles are relevant to core emphasis areas for K-State such as food safety and environmental issues. A complete listing of included titles is available online. All titles in the collection can be accessed via the Science Direct/SciVerse platform, from the K-State Libraries' e-journal listing, or from any of K-State Libraries’ databases that index Elsevier titles and employ the familiar Get It button to locate full text.

Questions about the subscription package can be directed to Stockham; users needing help accessing the titles can contact Library Help.