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New subscriptions can be requested by filling in the new subscription request form.
Please note that new subscriptions can only be requested by members of academic staff. If you are a student, ask a lecturer, your tutor or a course leader to fill the form on your behalf. Before placing a new subscription request, please consider using the Inter-Library Loan Service instead.
New subscriptions are discussed by Library staff, so we ask you to provide a business case in support. We are interested in this type of information:
- Why is the subscription needed?
- What course/module is it needed for?
- What particular research project is it needed for?
- How many students would benefit from it?
- Are Queen Mary authors on the editorial board?
- Are Queen Mary authors publishing consistently in the journal?
- Why is this resource better than its competitors (if applicable)?
We operate an e-first policy, so unless explicitly stated we will subscribe to the online-only option. We aim to contact requesters to let them know the outcome of their request within four weeks. If you haven't heard from us after four weeks from the submission, please email us at library-subscriptions@qmul.ac.uk.
If your request is accepted, a new subscription takes 4 to 6 weeks to be set up. Largely this process is out of Queen Mary’s control as it lies with publishers and subscription agents, so in some cases it can take longer than this to make the resource accessible. If the subscription is needed for a particular course, we suggest that you request it 3 months in advance.
Trials
If the publisher allows it, it is possible to request an individual trial to a resource. Individual trials can be requested by members of academic staff or students directly from publishers without the need to approach the Library.
Library Services does not normally facilitate institutional trials. Institutional trials are generally only arranged at a late stage in the resource acquisition process, where there is a strong likelihood that the resource will be purchased following a successful evaluation.
If a trial is required for more than a small number of named users, or if the publisher does not offer individual trials, please contact the Subscriptions & E-Resources Librarian at library-subscriptions@qmul.ac.uk. Requests should include a detailed business case explaining the purpose of the trial, the anticipated user group, and the expected outcomes of the trial.
Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Factors such as the potential value of the resource, alignment with teaching and research needs, technical requirements, and the likelihood of future acquisition will be taken into account when evaluating requests.
Cancellation policy
Demonstrating that our resources are relevant and good value for money is key to the library mission. Given the recurring nature of subscription costs, new subscriptions can only be taken out if the central budget is increased or if existing subscriptions are cancelled.
For this reason, each year the library collects usage statistics for the subscriptions paid centrally. If a resource has consistently poor usage for 2 or more consecutive years, the resource gets marked for cancellation (we define poor usage as a cost per use of over £7.00, the cost of an inter-library loan). Library Representatives for each School are requested to provide a business case if they wish to retain that subscription. If a business case is not received by the deadline, or if a business case is not considered strong enough by the library, the subscription will be cancelled or, subject to an agreement with the Library Representative, the cost transferred to the School’s budget.
Subscriptions marked for cancellation are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Business cases should include as many details as possible and be as specific as possible to demonstrate why the subscription is considered essential, who uses it, for what purposes and why this should be paid centrally by the library and not by the School.