[WEB4LIB] Are Banner ads acceptable on licensed databases

[Julia Schult]

One major reason we are sticking with Britannica Online, instead of
cancelling our subscription and going with Britannica.com (free to everyone,
supported by advertising) is because the screens on the free site are
cluttered with advertising and so-called value-added services.  We want the
quality information from Encyclopedia Britannica, not the "News, Markets,
Sports, Weather, and E-mail."

I don't mind ads in "just for fun" sites that I visit, especially if they are
related to the site, but when I'm doing research or helping a patron, having
banner ads or other marketing diminishes the site and distracts from our
academic mission.

---Julia E. Schult
Access/Electronic Services Librarian
Elmira College
Jschult at elmira.edu

GenAnnual at aol.com wrote:

> Colleagues,
> I need your opinion. An online database vendor has asked me if librarians
> would accept or object to their placing banner ads, visible to library
> patrons, on licensed databases hosted by their company?
>
> What would be your reaction? Not care; accepting; would cancel the
> subscription or?
> I take it that they feel they could charge lower fees if they had the
> additional revenue from the ads.
>
> What's your feeling?

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