No such thing as a free lunch -- the repercussions of free reference content on the web
Jill Lagerstrom
ASIS&T Annual Meeting - 2006 (ASIS&T 2006)
Austin, Texas, November 3-9, 2006
Abstract
What are the implications of linking to free commercial reference sources on the web from a library website? Many of these resources contain very accurate information. However, many, although they are free, contain license agreements to which we cannot agree. In addition, many have distracting advertising and information that is only partially free. Finally, are the depth and breadth of these resources adequate? To answer these questions, we will conduct a research study about free commercial reference sources. The first component will consist of a survey of these sources and their qualities. The second component will compare and contrast librarians' and patrons' attitudes and usage of these resources.