The HighWire Marketing Group (HWMG) and Stanford University Libraries and Academic Information Resources (SUL/AIR) are in substantial agreement with the analysis of current problems in budget, fair use, archives, scholarly communication, pricing and usage information as described in the ICOLC Statement (http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia/). The detailed response to preferred practices (see below) shows substantial agreement between ICOLC preferred practice and HWMG actual practice. It also highlights certain areas, such as archives, in which practical solutions that will meet library needs in most or all cases remain to be developed.
Consortia. Libraries and other purchasers may organize themselves in any way they wish to increase their leverage in the market place. The HWMG offers special discounts to buying consortia.
Terms and Conditions. There are no licensing contracts or other documents governing use beyond what appears on the site itself. Access to publication sites is governed by 'fair use', the terms and conditions for which are indicated on the site.
Non-disclosure language. There is no such language.
Features. Features offered by the HWMG are available and function properly under conditions of heavy user demand.
Developmental Products. Products are not released to the public until they are ready for world-wide, high traffic internet access.
Development Costs. HWMG publishers expect to recover their costs of investment through sales over time, or through member assessments. Also, HWMG development costs may be lower than other groups because they are spread among a number of different publishers by the HighWire Press, which is a unit of SUL/AIR.
Relationship to Print/Paper. HWMG offers the electronic product independent of the print/paper product, often at a substantial discount. A "bundled" purchase is not required.
Multiple Models. The HWMG offers print/electronic bundling as an option, as well as additional discounts for purchases of electronic-only titles from multiple publishers, and deep discounts for buyers in developing countries.
No Cancellation Clause. There is no such clause. Purchase of electronic titles offered by HWMG is not dependent in any way on a buyer's decision about any print titles. Bundling of print and electronic products is available, but not required.
Timing of Release.
Perpetual License. Buyers subscribe to, or acquire access to publication sites offered by the HWMG; they do not acquire 'content' or 'licenses'. In acquiring access, they give their readers entree to the communications of an active, world-wide community of scholars, including, at no additional charge, all previous communications (backfiles) as far back as they are available electronically.
Back up Copies. The HWMG has not yet implemented a solution for those who wish to create a back-up copy of content to which they have acquired access. However, the HWMG is willing to respond to whatever technology becomes the industry standard for doing so; in particular, the HWMG is willing to offer, at cost, full-text content in computer output microfiche (com) or CD-ROM for purposes of archival storage, or "back-up" only.
Perpetual Availability. The HWMG believes that perpetual, real-time access to all content, whether current or older, is in the best interests of research and learning, and the HWMG service model of continuous, round-the-clock, round-the-world up-time internet availability implements this belief. Several members of the HWMG offer 'free back issues', meaning, for example, that content older than 24 months is available at no charge to all readers around the world. Customers would pay for access to current content.
Local Mounting. Local mounting of full-text is not available with the HWMG. However, customers may wish to mount on their own site a searchable index with links to full-text on the publication site; such an index may be available from the HWMG.
Data Format. Data on the HWMG publication sites is typically available in PDF and HTML, converted from SGML, with image resolution at or above 600 dpi.
Data Integration. Full-text content is available only on the publication site.
Fair Use.
Liability. Customers are not required to assume liability for misuse of content by individuals.
Walk-in Use. Use by so-called "walk-in" customers is permitted, consistent with 'fair use'.
Usage Data. The HWMG will make every effort to create a usage data service which meets the customer's need for collection management information, at no additional cost. Such information may be used by the customer in whatever way the customer sees fit.
Reader Anonymity. The HWMG agrees that the identity and interests of specific, individual readers must remain anonymous and confidential.
Ethical Use of Information. The HWMG agrees with the principles espoused by national and international library organizations on the ethical use of information, confidentiality and privacy.
Authentication. The HWMG uses IP-based authentication for institutional access and PIN's for individual access.
About the HighWire Marketing Group (http://hwmg.stanford.edu)
The HighWire Marketing Group is based at Stanford University in California and specializes in medical and life science journals. The Group presently includes six publishers, and more are expected to join soon: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Physiological Society, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Society for Cell Biology, The Histochemical Society, The Rockefeller University Press.