[Nhcoll-l] Effect of Global Database Inclusion on Loan Requests

[Gil Nelson]

Interesting outcome. You would think that loan requests might decline  
with the availability of data online, especially when accompanied with  
high quality images. I have only anecdotal info, but some herbaria  
I've spoken with report a reduction in loans, though your findings  
certainly seem plausible and imminently logical. It'll be interesting  
what the controlled studies you suggest might be forthcoming will  
reveal.

Gil

Gil Nelson, Phd
Assistant Professor/Research
iDigBio Steering Committee
Integrated Digitized Biocollections
Institute for Digital Information and Scientific Communication
College of Communication and Information
Courtesy Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium
Florida State University
gnelson at bio.fsu.edu


Quoting "Sarah K. Huber" <skhuber at vims.edu>:

> I had posted a query several weeks ago regarding the impact of  
> global database inclusion on loan requests, and was asked to  
> summarize responses for the list. My main motivation for requesting  
> these data is so that I can budget for costs associated with a  
> possible increase in loan requests (we have a very tight budget). So  
> thank you to everyone who responded. Below are some of the key  
> points from these responses.
>
>
>
> 1) Not many collections have these data, and there are quite a lot  
> of people who would like to have them! A few collections are  
> formally collecting these kind of data (loans before and after  
> global database inclusion) and have plans to publish this kind of  
> information soon. However, if your collection is contemplating  
> inclusion into a global database, then formal records on loans  
> before and after would be tremendously helpful to the museum  
> community.
>
>
>
> 2) Informal estimates for loan increases ranged from 0-20%. The  
> degree of increase did not seem to be related to the size of the  
> collection or the time when the collection went "on-line".
>
>
>
> 3) Those respondents who saw increases in loan requests reported a  
> disproportionate increase in requests from foreign institutions.
>
>
>
> My take-home message from the replies I got was that inclusion into  
> a global database will increase the visibility of your collection  
> and will increase loan requests. In my opinion these are great  
> things! However, that also means that collections should budget  
> additional funds for processing loans and especially for  
> international postage.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Sarah
>
> Sarah K. Huber, Ph.D.
> Research Assistant Professor of Biology and Marine Science
> Collection Manager, VIMS Ichthyology Collection
> 804.684.7285
> skhuber at vims.edu | www.vims.edu
> PO Box 1346 | Rt. 1208 Greate Rd., Gloucester Pt., VA 23062
>
> [VimsLogo]
>