E-Licensing Resources
This page compiles resources and guides for improving the licensing of electronic resources. This page is intended to help librarians and information professionals improve their capacity for licensing resources and demystify this challenging but important part of librarianship.
Improving access to electronic resources was identified as Objective 3 for the Library Improvement Program for Year 2 (2007-2008) in the Middle Atlantic Region’s Strategic Program Plan for Member Participation, 2007-2011.
If you have suggestions for additional resources or to report problems with links, please e-mail rml@library.med.nyu.edu.
- Demystifying the Licensing of Electronic Resources: A Glossary of License Terms (ARL)
A very helpful reference for terms commonly found in licensing agreements.
- LIBLICENSE
An exhaustive resource for librarians, including model licenses, licensing vocabulary, licensing terms and descriptions, a bibliography, additional resources, and more. LIBLICENSE-L discussion list and instructions for joining are available as are the archives of the list.
- Libraries and Licensing (ALA)
A brief guide to several of the Association’s concerns regarding licensing and libraries.
- Licensing Electronic Resources: Strategic & Practical Considerations for Signing Electronic Information Delivery Agreements (ARL)
A very brief but thorough overview of the issues libraries should consider when licensing for electronic resources. The authors do a very good job of focusing on key elements—definition of “users”; the uses of information; consultation with institutional policy and legal counsel; and more.
- Negotiating Networked Information Contracts and Licenses: READI (Rights for Electronic Access to and Delivery of Information)
This 1994 guide from the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) guides readers through the various elements and contractual language of licenses for networked information. Elements covered include copyright, liability, methods of use, use restrictions, etc.
- Principles for Licensing Electronic Resources (ARL)
A brief overview of licensing principles as authored by ARL, ALA, AALL, AAHSL, MLA and SLA.
- Resources on Electronic Licensing (MLA)
A guide to resources on electronic licensing compiled by MLA, including LIBLICENSE-L, MLA CE courses and more.
- Shared E-Resource Understanding (SERU) (NISO)
Sponsored by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO), SERU is an attempt to establish a statement that describes common understandings around e-resource subscriptions, allowing libraries and publishers to forgo a license by referencing the common understandings. The benefits of SERU include easier transaction of electronic resource subscriptions, rapid acquisition and minimal delay for access, and time and cost savings for both libraries and publishers.
- Software and Database License Agreement Checklist (University of Texas)
Interactive checklist to help institutions assess the terms of their database and software licenses.
