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

[Paul Callomon]

Since we updated our online database we have seen an increase in loan requests citing data that could only have come from it. The majority are from abroad, principally Brazil, and are from doctoral students whose advisers seem to have told them "first borrow as much stuff as you can". 

Paul Callomon
Collections Manager in Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology and General Invertebrates
THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA  19103
callomon at ansp.org
Tel. 215-405-5096
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-----Original Message-----
From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Gil Nelson
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 2:14 PM
To: Sarah K. Huber
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Effect of Global Database Inclusion on Loan Requests

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]
>


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