JISC

The JISC, working closely with the Publishers and Library/Learning Solutions (PALS) Metadata and Interoperability Group invites tenders to conduct a study to investigate the main drivers for patron-driven acquisition of e-books, and the implications for acquiring reliable and useful metadata. 

The primary aim of the study is to:

• Understand the motivations for patron’s  recommending or requesting the purchase of an e-book.

Additional aims include:

• Identification of the role metadata plays in the discovery, selection and acquisition process when it is primarily driven by the patron. 
• Understanding the role metadata plays in the selection process of the patron, what might be termed ‘selection assisting metadata’.
• Understanding patron discovery behaviour (i.e. Google or Amazon).
• Availability of metadata.
• Exploring the problems such an approach has for libraries (for example, e-books purchased without library knowledge).
• Developing a number of recommendations for librarians, intermediaries and publishers

Total funding of up to £40,000 (including VAT, travel and subsistence) is available for this project.

The deadline for proposals is 12 noon UK time on Thursday 5 May 2011.

The successful bidder will be expected to start work on or around Tuesday 14 June 2011.

The deadline for submission of final deliverables is 13 September 2011.