PROVIDING ELECTRONIC JOURNAL DATABASE SERVICES FOR NON-PROFIT

EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: FEASIBLE OR FOLLY?

WHY DO NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS NEED ELECTRONIC JOURNAL DATABASES FOR THEIR MEMBERSHIP?

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBSCRIBE TO ELECTRONIC JOURNALS AND DATABASE SERVICES?

CONCLUSION

Non-profit organizations (NPO) have long served as sources of innovation that minister to the public. In order to remain at the forefront of their chosen endeavor and in turn best serve their beneficiaries, both the administration and membership of any association should strive to keep up with the latest information and technology available. Electronic journal databases (and the periodicals they represent) typically provide the most up-to-date resources and information attainable, all at the touch of a keyboard. If the NPO has a membership base that is national or international, the accessibility of scholarly materials to all affiliates is both efficient and advantageous.

The procedures for subscribing to an electronic journal or database service at this time can be inconsistent and complex. Still a relatively new enterprise, there is little standardization. When considering such an undertaking the ADDIE principle should be considered: Analysis : Poll the current numbers and project figures of future membership growth for the NPO and determine their needs.Design : Evaluate the internet system capabilities of the NPO’s network. Appraise the cost of various electronic journal services, and their diverse features. Development : Consult or secure a knowledgeable and skilled CIO, IT supervisor or network administrator. Implementation : Assess the computing skill levels of anticipated users and develop strategies for technology skills training. Evaluation : Objectively examine the benefits and disadvantages of electronic media for the NPO and determine their exigency.

A CASE STUDY

FOR MORE NFORMATION

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a 501(c)(e) non-profit educational organization that serves as a historical recreation and living history group.

Dedicated to promoting research of primarily pre-17th century Western European culture and history, the SCA was originally founded in 1966 as a uniquely-themed counterculture social group. Over the years the organization’s focus evolved, especially once receiving its corporate designation. However the SCA has received frequent criticism from many academic institutions in regards to whether the organization’s purported purpose and educational value are valid. Now possessing 32,000 paid members, there are representatives of the group’s administration that are attempting to counter the criticism and seek new methods of bolstering scholastic endeavors.

Despite a centralized legislation, there are over a dozen regional branches, each with limited financial resources, and a workforce that is comprised solely of volunteers. Reconciling these impediments with the circuitous venture of negotiating with multiple electronic databases will present a unique challenge.

When examining the databases of companies such as Project Muse or JStor, the discrepancies between each company’s criteria for what was considered an eligible non-profit organization was extremely evident. There were also differences in pricing and services offered by both corporations. While Project Muse alternately offered packages, or customized selections, JStor offered a handful of bundles that comprised of larger categories, such as medicine, music , or mathematics.

The cost of these services, (even with custom -tailored subscriptions) combined with the legal intricacies of contract negotiations , is a daunting task that is elusive to all but sizable and affluent associations.

http://www.usd.edu/~ahulm/nonprofit_project.pdf

http://www.clir.org/PUBS/reports/pub138/intro.html

http://fiat.gslis.utexas.edu/~ssoy/usesusers/l391d1b.htm

http://www.acton.org/files/scholarship_at_the_crossroads.pdf

http://www.hellers.com/steve/resume/p151.html