Project Background and Advisory Group Responsibilities
For the MCR Regional Licensing Consortium
Purpose:
The Regional Licensing Consortium represents a consortium of health sciences and related libraries in the six state region of National Network of Libraries of Medicine – MidContinental Region (NN/LM MCR) formed for the purpose of acquiring access to commercial electronic information resources. Its aim is to simplify licensing arrangements, improve cost benefits for member libraries, and to explore opportunities for making electronic products more widely available.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine MidContinental Region Profile:
The profile offers information about the NN/LM MCR and its member libraries. It is intended to inform vendors about the MidContinental Region. It includes the names and addresses of member libraries and contact details for their representatives.
Background:
In Spring, 2004, the NN/LM MCR established the Regional Licensing Consortium to investigate the feasibility of group purchasing for electronic resources. The name of the consortium was formally changed to the MCR Regional Licensing Consortium on May 17, 2006. The Regional Licensing Consortium comprises one representative from each state in the NN/LM MCR, and includes members from Full or Affiliate Network libraries.
The principal action items for the NN/LM MCR Regional Licensing Consortium are:
- To identify issues and options for implementing consortial arrangements between NN/LM MCR member libraries and providers of electronic resources;
- To develop suggestions, strategies and action to support the implementation of consortial arrangements;
- To recommend electronic products that may be of interest to the member libraries;
- To identify issues in negotiating licenses for electronic products.
Responsibilities:
The responsibilities of the NN/LM MCR Regional Licensing Consortium Advisory Group are:
- The final arbiter of all selection decisions is the Regional Licensing Consortium.
- The NN/LM MCR will select participants in the Regional Licensing Consortium that will represent the interests of all network members.
- The Regional Licensing Consortium is empowered to survey NN/LM MCR member libraries to identify resources or services of interest.
- The Regional Licensing Consortium is empowered to select one or more packages of interest to make available to member libraries.
- The Regional Licensing Consortium will endeavor to select resources or services of broad interest to all member libraries.
- The Regional Licensing Consortium will endeavor to select the most cost-effective resources or services on behalf of member libraries.
- No member library is obligated to participate in any regional purchase.
- The Regional Licensing Consortium will use the services of the Bibliographical Center for Research (BCR) for contract negotiation and invoicing services.
