State Librarian Nancy Robertson recently announced MeL databases contract updates:

Dear colleagues/users of the Michigan eLibrary (MeL),

I want to update you on where we stand with our statewide contracts for the MeL databases. Our current three-year contracts expire on Sept. 30, 2006. Since we want to have some time to evaluate the use of the current databases, get input on what additional or alternative subject coverage is needed, and to make sure to create an RFP that incorporates the latest searching options and information results, we are working with our major database vendors to establish a one-year extension of the current database contracts for Oct. 1, 2006-Sept. 30, 2007. The vendors are receptive to our proposal; however, the extensions will not be final until they have the approval of the Governor's Administrative Board, expected in January.

Additionally, please note that starting Oct. 1, 2006, the CINAHL database will no longer be accessible via MeL due to unanticipated changes with OCLC's contract for that particular product. In its place, we are working on a contract substitution with OCLC for the inclusion of many new NetLibrary titles for MeL. As you may have noticed, OCLC has generously provided immediate access these new NetLibrary titles, rather than requiring us to wait until the CINAHL access is shut down. The Library of Michigan will be adding MARC records for these titles to our catalog, and thus to MeLCat. If you have questions about how to access these titles and other database offerings on MeL, please contact the Michigan Library Consortium MeL Support Staff for assistance.

Thank you.
Nancy

Updated 01/05/2006