In researchers' own words...

Sample comments received from researchers participating in the Federal Science eLibrary Pilot Project:

Greater efficiency and productivity for researchers

"Immediate access to journals saves a great deal of time and allows greater efficiency. It also encourages me to check a wider amount if the pertinent literature."

"Instant access to new and old journal articles has resulted in less time searching and more time for writing papers and reports."

"Our facility's library no longer receives paper journals, so access to relevant journals requires a 45-minute drive to the University of Alberta. Requesting photocopies of journal articles through the library systems involves a delay of several days. Thus desktop access to e-journals significantly reduces wasted travel time and waiting time."

Addressing disparities across regions and departments

"To need information, and know it is available on the desktop of your colleague at the end of the hall, but not to you because you are in a different department is ridiculous. This problem must be addressed."

"If the goal of the Federal Science eLibrary is to serve ALL scientists employed within the federal family, I am hoping that we will be able to access all journals - not just those that are selected 'in house' by scientists within a particular department."

"When I started working here I could not believe the government did not make it easy for researchers to obtain scientific papers. It seemed very dark ages. We are a science institute that is not as up to date [as] the universities we had to go through to get here."

A coordinated approach to licensing for access rights

"I have worked in US government laboratories and in universities in both the US and Canada. Electronic library resources in the GOC are not as good as [those] enjoyed by our foreign and academic peers. The only reason appears to be money. GOC needs a coordinated strategy to negotiate with publishers so that government scientists across all disciplines have access comparable to our academic peers."

A call to action

"This would be the most significant research tool in the last 10 years."

"This is a great idea. I would really like to see it implemented fully."

"Very useful initiative - should be continued."