This article provides an overview of the basic characteristics of database, or eContent, license agreements, defines general licensing terms, maps the anatomy of an electronic resources subscription agreement, and discusses negotiating skills and techniques for library staff. (Contains a list of additional resources and a sample agreement.)

This overview of the available government and defense online databases divides them into the categories of research and development and market intelligence and describes the contents of each database. A listing of the online producers and providers, starting dates of files, and update frequency is provided. (CLB)

Reports on the National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services meeting regarding library consortia, their functions, and how vendors and consortia work together in providing information services. Consortia provide vendors with an audience of less funded institutions but make licensing contracts difficult. Discusses issues including…

Describes the competitive bidding process used by California State University to successfully procure integrated library systems for 5 of its 19 campuses during 1 fiscal year. The procurements demonstrated that competitive bidding not only reduces overall cost of library systems, but also allows the buyer to achieve favorable contract provisions.…

Examines the legal and ethical responsibilities of independent information professionals and describes a number of strategies to avoid being found liable for information malpractice. These include developing good client relations, contracts and disclaimers, competent performance, and insurance. A sidebar by John Rosenberg, discusses the issue of…

The ancient Romans had it right. The underlying relationships between contracting parties were considered so important among Roman citizens that breaking a contract was considered a serious offense: The breaching party forfeited social position and property, and, if necessary, his family was expected to make good on his contractual promises. In…

The increasing popularity of digital information has brought great convenience to library patrons. It has, however, posed challenges to libraries in achieving their major missions, i.e., preservation and dissemination of information. The underlying reasons for this phenomenon are dichotomous: the restrictions imposed by electronic information…

Discusses problems for information professionals arising from traditional copyright legislation, as well as from the proposed Uniform Commercial Code 2B on information licensing. Highlights include responsibility of information consumers; World Wide Web terms and conditions, including those of newspapers and publishers; privacy issues; database…