Inside CDL: Frequently Asked Questions about CDL Collections and the Acquisitions Process
Accessing CDL Content
1. Where can I find a complete list of electronic journals, databases, and reference materials to which the CDL provides access?
The CDL licensed resources on behalf of UC Libraries. The best place to access CDL-Licensed resources is through your campus library web site.
2. Does my campus have access to a particular resource?
For an individual resource or publisher, search the Directory of CDL-Licensed Resources and click on [more info] for that resource. At the bottom on the next page, under Access Info, you will see the campuses that subscribe to that resource.
For a complete list of all CDL-licensed resources and participating campuses, please see CDL-licensed resource participants.
3. Whom should I tell if I really need access to a resource that is not in the Digital Library?
Please inform the appropriate subject area selectors in your local campus library about what you need. They will, in turn, report this information to their liaisons in the Collection Development Committee and Joint Steering Committee on Shared Collections.
CDL Collection Development and Acquisitions
4. What criteria are used to develop the CDL collection?
The CDL Collection Framework discusses the basis of selection and the collection development criteria that are used. An additional set of JSC Priorities for Licensing refine this model. The Guidelines for Addition of New Titles to CDL E-Journal Publisher Packages describes how titles are added to existing journal publisher subscriptions.
5. Who makes the acquisitions decisions for the CDL and what is the licensing process?
The Joint Steering Committee on Shared Collections collaborates with the Collection Development Committee and advises the CDL on the development of shared content to serve UC instructional and research programs. It surveys the priorities of campus subject area specialists and then recommends titles to the CDL.
6. Where can I find information on CDL acquisitions in process?
The CDL Negotiations in Progress (password protected) provides a weekly update for library staff on the progress in negotiating licenses for new materials. The annual CDL Licensing Priorities (password protected) is the work plan for CDL's negotiations for this fiscal year.
7. Are there problems licensing electronic journals and other content from some Publishers?
Yes. Some publishers' terms & conditions and pricing are not sustainable by UC libraries. Barriers to Licensing describes the issues that have prevented the CDL from licensing some valuable scholarly material.
8. What happens after selectors nominate a resource? How does that suggestion get approved?
The process begins with UC campus subject selectors who report their priorities across all formats annually to the systemwide Joint Steering Committee for Shared Collections. The JSC examines the survey responses in light of the CDL collection development principles and JSC criteria for priority selection to identify the products to recommend for systemwide acquisition by the CDL.
The JSC's recommendations are incorporated into the CDL Licensing Priorities (password protected) for each fiscal year. The CDL negotiates with information providers, and when it reaches a sustainable business model, it seeks the final recommendation of the JSC and the agreement of the UC Collection Development Officers in cases in which campuses will fund ongoing access.
9. After a resource is approved, why does it take so long for us to get notified that access is available?
The CDL goes to great lengths to implement fully every new resource it licenses. This includes working with the vendor to customize the interface for the UC audience, ensuring that links to content actually work, and verifying that all UC campuses can access the resource. All this must happen before the resource is announced to the UC community.
10. Is the CDL going to acquire e-books?
The CDL already offers electronic books from the University of California Press and UC International & Area Studies Program via eScholarship and many campuses have ebook subscriptions directly with information providers. A Joint Steering Committee task force evaluated the state of ebooks in 2001. See the JSC Ebook Report.
Campus-negotiated ("Tier 2") Licenses for Electronic Resources
11. What are the "tiers" and how do they work?
In brief, "Tier 1" resources are CDL-negotiated and CDL-funded. "Tier 2" resources are multi-campus contracts for resources that are generally both campus-negotiated and funded. Tiers are more fully described in Tiered Approach for Access to Purchased Electronic Content.
12. How do the campuses share costs for multiple-campus licenses?
The campuses follow broad principles in co-investing in e-resources, and use a 3-year average of book budgets as a basis to determine co-investment contributions. Sharing Costs of Electronic Resources Among UC Campuses describes cost sharing models and how they are affected by full or partial participation by UC campuses. See the current Recommended Cost Shares for UC campuses.
13. Is there information available to help campus staff negotiate multi-campus licenses for electronic resources?
The CDL Licensing Tool Kit is designed to assist campus library staff in negotiating the business model and license agreement for campus-funded (Tier 2) electronic resources. CDL Collection Development Staff are also available to answer questions and help strategize. The CDL Licensing Tool Kit describes all the procedures that campus staff need to follow to enable the CDL to manage the renewals.
14. Who are the primary contacts for campus bibliographer groups and their liaisons on the Joint Steering Committee and Collection Development Committee (UC intercampus advisory groups)?
Click here to see the key representatives of the bibliographer groups and the liaisons with whom they communicate on each committee. There are also links to bibliographer groups' web sites.
Technical Requirements and Other Information that Vendors Need
15. Where can I find the information that vendors need (for example, FTE counts, technical specifications, preferred license terms, etc.)?
Please see the page Especially for Vendors and Content Providers for all the factual, licensing, and technical information that vendors typically request. There you will also find all the documents on licensing terms that you should ask them to review before negotiations begin.
16. Where does the CDL state its technical requirements and discuss the status of CDL technical development?
The CDL technical requirements for electronic journals and databases and web sites are available on the page Especially for Vendors & Content Providers on the CDL web site.
17. Where can I get help evaluating a new resource's content, interface, and accessibility?
This information is available on the Information about CDL-Licensed Resources page.
Contacting the CDL
18. Who are the CDL Collection Development and Licensing contacts?
Click here to see the CDL Collection Development and Licensing Contacts.
The CDL Acquisitions Coordinator at the link above can answer questions about the Tier 2 process from start to finish.
19. Whom do I contact with technical questions?
Send email to cdlsupport@ucop.edu.
20. Whom do I contact if I have problems accessing a resource?
Report a Problem will direct you to the best way to reach the CDL.