Collection Development and Electronic Resources have launched centralized trial management. The purpose of trial centralization is to create a permanent institutional record of resource trials and collecting the associated local feedback and final acquisition decisions.

As a part of this process, we can assist selectors by setting up trials on their behalf. You can do this via our trial request form.  If you are comfortable setting trials up on your own, you can use the same form to share the trial information so that it can be recorded in our system and shared with library users. An added benefit of having us set up the trial is that we can deal with any technical issues related to access (i.e. making it accessible via EZProxy, sharing up-to-date IP range information or any admin set-up/updates).

The Active Trials LibGuide allows us to publicize all the trials being run at any time.  You can point to this guide when you advertise your specific trial or can access it from the "Trial Access Databases" link on the Database A-Z list (https://search.library.yale.edu/databases).

Trial feedback can be collected using the Trial Feedback Form. This link can be shared when you advertise the trial via email or other local channels. It is also included on the trial entry on the public-facing LibGuide. This data (if available) can be shared  when E-Resources sends the trial expiration reminder and once the trial is ended.

Best Practices for Trials

• For larger content providers (ProQuest, EBSCO, Sage) it is preferable that you submit the request for trial, and not set the trial up on your own. Our hope is to focus communication with these vendors through a limited number of contacts.
• Standard practice is to request 30 day trials or a maximum of 60 days, unless the vendor offers a longer trial period from the outset.
• We can always extend a trial, but we need to be mindful of our relationship with vendors. You do not want to give vendors unfair expectations if you are not seriously considering acquiring the resource.
• In cases where a trial extending beyond 60 days is desired, we ask that you negotiate with the vendor yourself, again being mindful of the vendor’s goodwill.