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A course from Jisc Collections

Course summary

Electronic publishing has brought huge changes to learned information provision and to the role of librarians and other information professionals.  ‘Ownership’ of content is no longer a simple matter of receiving and storing print copies on a shelf.  Publishers and intermediaries license access to electronic resources, and so the licence has become a feature of most sales agreements.  Information professionals consequently need to become familiar with the terms and conditions of licences, their meaning and their implications.  

Why you should attend

The course is designed for librarians involved in e-resource purchasing in academic institutions; librarians in these institutions who are being trained to undertake purchasing roles will also benefit from attending.  Participants will gain a good understanding of the key issues surrounding publisher licensing and negotiations, together with practical skills and knowledge which they will be able to use in their professional lives.

Jisc Collections has an international reputation for expertise in the negotiation and licensing of scholarly online resources.  It currently manages around 200 agreements and its model licence is seen as a ‘gold standard’ across the academic sector.

Learning objectives

At the end of the course participants will:

  • Understand the key issues surrounding publisher licensing, and how these impact libraries
  • Be familiar with the concept of a Model Licence and the important clauses in publisher licences
  • Be familiar with the principles of successful negotiation of terms and conditions in the context of licensing online information resources
  • Understand the fundamental dos and don’ts of e-resource licence negotiation
  • Be aware of the legal implications that licence terms have for their institution
  • Understand the latest issues and concerns related to licensing
  • Be aware of the issues around licensing for additional users, including those at partner organisations

NB: UKSG reserves the right to alter or vary the programme due to events or circumstances beyond its reasonable control without being obliged to refund monies.