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(Note from the Washington State Library: In order to participate in the Fall 1999 Washington State Databases Trial, each vendor was asked to address questions the Statewide Database Licensing Committee felt were most critical in order for library staff to evaluate products and vendors. Please contact the vendor's representative, listed below, for additional information on this product.)
1. Describe the database product. Include information on subject scope, percentage of full-text, dates of coverage, target audience (including age ranges), and how often the contents are updated.
FACTS.com delivers 20 years of the full text of the authoritative Facts On File World News Digest, updated every week. A system of 500,000 internal hyperlinks interconnect 75,000 news stories from Facts On File with selected, related material from six other core reference database, including Issues and Controversies On File, Today's Science On File and the World Almanac.
FACTS.com combines:
- concise, authoritative Facts On File news articles created by our staff using more than 100 sources
- an updated news feed from Reuters
- selected content from additional reference databases
- feature articles on key events, key issues, key people, and nations of the world created specifically for FACTS.com
- useful and attractive graphics
- full-text newspaper editorials
- And a powerful and easy-to-use interface to provide quick answers to researchers' questions on world developments from 1980 through this afternoon.
2. What are the hardware and software requirements for using all the features of the product?
FACTS.com can be run from any Internet connected machine using Netscape 3.0 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher. Other contemporary browsers are also supported.
3. Is remote access included for the subscription price? If there are additional charges or requirements in order to offer remote access, please describe. What methods of remote access are supported?
Remote access is included in the price of the subscription. Remote access can be authenticated by User Name and Password, through the home web page of the library using patron library card numbers, or through the home web page of the library using a referring URL if the library pre-authenticates its patrons.
4. Please discuss any methods or assistance you offer regarding remote access patron verification and authentication.
Toll-free technical support is available 9:30 to 5:00 EST, or by appointment. E-mail support is also available. Our Technical Support staff is available to handle any questions regarding setup and execution of remote access and patron verification and authentication.
5. What end user delivery options, such as printing, emailing or faxing results, are available beyond just viewing results on the computer monitor?
Unlimited printing, downloading and e-mailing of all material are available, subject to the capabilities of the user's browser. The 750 photographs and maps in FACTS.com cannot be re-used for commercial purposes.
6. What customer training is provided, and at what cost?
FACTS.com is an extremely easy-to-use application with an extensive system of help. New subscribers receive tips on using the service. Help for content and use is also provided on-line and by telephone. For large district purchases, on-site training could possibly be provided. The cost would be the expenses of the trainer.
7. What customer and technical support is provided, including hours of operation.
Toll free technical support is available 9:30 to 5:00 Eastern Time, or by appointment. E-mail support is also available.
8. Describe the statistics you provide, and discuss whether your statistical reporting complies with guidelines developed by the International Coalition of Library Consortia which may be found at www.library.yale.edu/consortia/webstats.html .
Statistics for this service are expected to be provided later this year (Fall/Winter 1999). Libraries may request the method and form in which they are required.
9. Describe your pricing structure or formula for the product. If there are additional costs for retrieving full text, describe the pricing for this service.
The base list price of FACTS.com is $1,350 per building for unlimited use. College pricing is based on FTEs. Discounts are available for school libraries and for multiple site purchases by a single institution (such as by a public library system or school district).
10. What is the minimum participation level (however you care to define it) that would be needed to allow participating libraries to receive a discount? What is the minimum discount for a group buy? Please clarify how you would treat existing library customers with regard to a group buy.
The vendor offers discounts and has provided information to the Washington State Library to answer this question. Interested libraries, please contact Jeanne Crisp ([email protected], 360-704-5255) for details.
11. Please provide the name and contact information (toll-free telephone number, email address, hours, etc.) for libraries to make further inquires.
Contact for librarians: Louise Hayden 800-363-7976, ext. 613; 9:00 to 4:30 Eastern Time; [email protected]
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