I would like to have full access to Jstor (http://www.jstor.org/) and
Project Muse (http://muse.jhu.edu/).  I belong to a small Japanese
university, but our institution does not subscribe these databases.  I
am willing to pay as an individual to those who assist me get full
access to these databases.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 04 Oct 2003 19:01 PDT

Hello Madison1166-ga,

Thanks for your question.  I have contacted JSTOR and Project Muse
regarding your dilemma, and I'll let you know when I hear back from
them.

In the mean time, are there particular journals that are of interest
to you?  Many of them have individual on-line access (often on a
pay-per-article basis), or may be available through other online
services.

In addition, there are commercial services that can deliver articles
from academic publications directly to you (by mail, fax, and
sometimes by  email).

There may be other resources in your community that can help provide
you with the articles you need...if you can let me know your town in
Japan, I can look into any possibilities.

And of course, there is interlibrary loan, which may be available at
your institution.

Let me know if I should explore any of these possibilities for you, in
addition to checking with JSTOR and Project Muse.

Thanks.  

pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by madison1166-ga on 06 Oct 2003 13:54 PDT

Dear pafalafa-ga:

Thank you very much for your question.  I have access to other
databases such as ProQuest, Wilson, First Search, SIRS, EBSCO, etc.
but JSTOR and MUSE are comprehensive.  No, not any particular journal
but I would like to have full access to all the journals on these
databases just like I did while I was a student at U. of
Wisconsin-Madison.  I use ILL, but reading the full text online is the
best.  My hometown is Kawanishi-city, Hyogo (Japan) and my work place
is Minoh-city, Osaka (Japan).  If I become affiliated with any U.S.
higher educational institution, I may have access to these databases. 
Thank you very much!

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 07 Oct 2003 19:57 PDT

Hello again Madison1166-ga,

Thanks for the additional information...it was a great help in
researching your question.

I've received replies from JSTOR and Project Muse, and as I'm sure you
can guess, their answers were:  Sorry...no individual subscriptions,
and no getting around our rules.

I did speak to a very helpful librarian at the University of
Wisconsin, however, who suggested two possible ways that you could
re-affiliate yourself with the University, and thereby get an ID and
password and legitimate access to the online content that the library
system makes available to the UWisc community (including, of course,
JSTOR and Proj Muse).

One of the options was a longshot, at best, and could only work if you
were a graduate or doctoral student there (and it would help, too, if
you were tight with some of your professors).  But it might be worth a
shot...so please let me know what type of program you were in, and if
you received any sort of advanced degree.

The other option seemed much more manageable, which was simply to sign
up for a single course at the University as long as it provides you
with the access you are seeking.  I am following up with the
University to get some additional information as to how it might work.
 When I hear back from them, I will update you on what I have learned.

The bottom line to all this is that there may be an option or two for
you, but I still need some more time to work out the details.  I'll
keep you posted on any new information that I get, and hopefully, I'll
be able to answer the question to your satisfaction.



pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by madison1166-ga on 08 Oct 2003 15:54 PDT

Dear pafalafa-ga: 
 
Thank you very much for your question.  I received Ph.D. from Uni. of
Wisconsin-Madison in 1999 (from History Department) and currently, I
am a full-time faculty member at a small university in Japan.  Getting
affiliation is quite difficult, but if you can do it, please also try
University of California System.  Once you are affiliated with one of
the system, you can use all the libraries of the system.  Thank you
again for your help and I am looking forward to your excellent ideas.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 10 Oct 2003 07:50 PDT

Hello again,

Just wanted to give you a bit of an update to let you know I haven't
forgotten you.

I have some additional information coming to me (by snail mail, of all
things) that should help provide the details I need to give you the
best answer possible.  So be patient, and I'll get back to you in a
few days with another update.

pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by madison1166-ga on 10 Oct 2003 17:04 PDT

Dear pafalafa-ga:  

Thank you for your effort.  I will be waiting for your great answer.

Hello again madison1166-ga,

I have an answer for you (at last) which...on the face of it...is
surprising both for its simplicity and reasonable cost.  I hope
everything goes as smoothly for you as it seems it should.

But let me say right at the outset -- if you run into ANY sort of
obstacles at all in gaining access to the databases you need, just let
me know, and I'll continue to work with you to try and straighten
things out.

This was a very challenging question, involving a number of false
starts and dead ends, until coming across what I believe to be the
best solution.  I hope this turns out to be the "great answer" you
were looking for.

All the best.

pafalafa-ga

---------------

My recommendation is to sign-up for an on-line (distance learning)
class at the California State University campus in Dominguez Hills.

They offer individual courses (rather than having to sign up for a
full-fledged degree program), but signing up for a single class still
entitles you to full library privileges, including access to their
online databases.

A single class costs $75.  

Let's walk through the steps:

---------------

The main page for California State University, Dominguez Hills, is at:

http://www.csudh.edu/

where you can familiarize yourself a bit more with the college.  

-----

They have a fairly sophisticated set of electronic resources available
that you can see here:

http://library.csudh.edu/ElectDB.php

The site lists all of the electronic information resources available
through the library, and confirms the availability of JSTOR, Project
Muse, and many, many others.  I think you'll be pleased with the depth
and variety of resources here.

-----

But for your purposes, the heart of the matter is on this page:


http://www.csudh.edu/skillsonline/

which lays out a new program at CSUDH based on "self-paced web-based
training courses" for professional development.

I hope some of the courses here would be of interest to you...a full
list of courses is included at the site.   But even if they are not of
interest, it would still be worth your while to sign up for a course. 
An individual course is $75 per semester.


The actual registration procedures are listed here:

http://www.csudh.edu/extendeded/register.htm

As you can see, you can register by mail, fax or phone for starters. 
After you have registered once and are in their system, you will have
the added option of re-registering on-line as well.

I spoke with two people at CSUDH, one in the Distance Learning program
(310-243-2288) and another in the Extended Education registration
office (310-243-3741) and both confirmed that once registered -- even
for a single class -- you are considered a full-fledged student and
given access to the library's electronic resources (it can take a day
or two for the access to become effective once you are registered).

So that's it!  Register, pay a $75 per semester fee, and in a few days
you should have full-scale access to the databases you wanted, and to
many other resources as well.  I hope you'll agree...it's a pretty
good deal.

-------------------

In my earlier comments, I mentioned I was looking into other
possibilities as well.  The main ones that present themselves are much
more complex, and much more ambiguous, than the CSUDH option.  The
best of the lot involved getting assigned special status at the
University of Wisconsin, as either a "special student" or as what they
call a "zero time faculty" appointment.  But like I said, either of
these would be quite complicated, and far from foolproof.

If, for any reason, the CSUDH option doesn't work out, then let me
know, and we can begin exploring these (and other) alternatives in
more depth.  But hopefully, that won't be necessary, and in just a few
days, you will have full and easy access to JSTOR, Project Muse, and
all the rest.

Best of luck.

pafalafa-ga

search strategy:  Google search on ["distance learning" site:.edu],
combined with innumerable phone calls to college registrars and
libraries...special thanks are due to the CSUDH registrar's office,
and to a wonderfully helpful librarian at the University of Wisconsin.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by madison1166-ga on 13 Oct 2003 17:10 PDT

Dear pafalafa-ga:   

Thank you very much for your excellent answer. I am impressed with
your research skills.  I am now checking with Carol Dales(distance
learning librarian).  After I receive confirmation from her, I will
register one course as you suggest - and give you the top rating! 
Please be patient and I will make sure to get back to you.  Meanwhile,
could you please tell me about "zero time faculty" appointment at
University of Wisconsin-Madison?
Thank you for your help and please wait for a while.

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 14 Oct 2003 13:09 PDT

Madison1166-ga,

I can't wait to hear back from you regarding CSUDH...I have my fingers
crossed!

As for the zero-time appointment option (which, to save typing, is
henceforth, ZTA), here's my understanding.

ZTA is an unpaid faculty appointment.  My understanding is that many
universities use ZTA's (or something similar) as a way of bringing
people on board, either as an honorary position, or to expand their
faculty list, or (though no one would admit this) simply as a personal
favor to someone in need of a professional title.

I found a pretty nice write-up of ZTA's at the University of Iowa
website:

---------------

http://www.law.uiowa.edu/fachand/zerotime.php

Several benefits accrue from having zero-time appointments: 1)
Zero-time appointments expand the resource base for research and
teaching; 2) Zero-time appointments may make it easier to expand
graduate training programs in interdisciplinary areas; 3) Zero-time
appointments increase the visibility of the College in other areas of
the university; 4) The recruitment of professional and graduate
students as well as faculty may be made easier through a zero-time
appointments policy.

[and note...]

Zero-time appointees have access to the law library 

---------------

Although the write-up also makes it sound like a ZTA has a lot of
responsibilities, my understanding is that, more often than not, it's
simply a title on paper, and they don't really do anything.

The librarian I spoke to at UWisc said that ZTA's used to be a dime a
dozen, and that graduates sometimes got them to fill out their
resumes.  In recent years, apparently, they are less common, but still
available.  Also, she called them zero time appointments, though the
formal term used at UWsic seems to be zero budgeted or zero dollar
appointments.

---------------

Here's a tidbit from the UWisc med school site about zero-dollar
appointments:

http://www.med.wisc.edu/Admin/hr/Faculty/

Volunteer clinical faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison hold
a zero-dollar appointment that requires no specific percentage of time
commitment and carries no promise that the department can provide
salary or space allocation at any time in the future. This appointment
entitles volunteer faculty to a faculty/staff identification card
which permits access to WiscWorld (Internet) Off-Campus Installation,
and to the University facilities such as the Natatorium, Nielsen
Tennis Stadium, libraries, and student unions.

[note:  there are also sample letters, guidelines, etc here --
definitely have a look]

---------------

Here are a bunch more links pertaining to ZTA's at UWisc, in case you
want to explore this in more detail:

://www.google.com/univ/wisc?q=%22zero+*+appointment%22&num=100

---------------

How do you get a ZTA?

Ask.

It helps (apparently, a lot) if you have a good relationship with a
professor or, better yet, a dean in the department of interest.  But
even if you've lost touch, it can't hurt to ask.

There is no fixed application procedure that I am aware of.  Each
department, apparently, has its own protocol and culture regarding
ZTA's, but it seems as if the option is there, if you can just
convince the powers that be to make you a ZTA offer.  I wish I could
be more specific here, but it really is an ad-hoc process.

---------------

A ZTA might be something worth pursuing even if the CSUDH option pans
out as expected.  So let me know how things unfold, and by all means,
get back to me if you need any additional information on CSUDH, ZTA's
or whatever.

All the best...

pafalafa-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by madison1166-ga on 15 Oct 2003 15:50 PDT

Dear pafalafa-ga:   

I have been waiting for a reply from the university distance
librarian, but no no reply yet.  If possible, could you please find
out the followings?
1.  If I register a mini-course, can I still have access to the
library online database including JStor and Muse?
http://www.activeeducation.com/csudh/  (mini course: distance
learning)

2.  If I register a 3-month course (1 semester), do I have access to
the library online database during the recess after the semester?  For
example, if I register the fall semester (which ends in mid-December),
do I have access to the database during the winter recess?  If I
register the spring semester, do I have access to the database during
the summer recess?

I will continue to wait for the reply from a librarian, but if you can
find out the above question, we can move forward quickly.  I am sorry
to bother you, but we are almost there and I would like to get the
final confirmation or the last minute questions.  Thank you in advance
for your help.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by madison1166-ga on 16 Oct 2003 15:42 PDT

Dear pafalafa-ga:   

I just received the following from CSU.  
"You have access to the library as long as you are registered in one
of our
distance learning courses. If you would like more info on the distance
learning progrma please email us and let us know which distance
learning
program you are interested in."

Consequently, I registered for just one course (Microsoft passport)
(35111 NGMS 100 Microsoft Office 2000 Passport 90-120 $149 1 year )
and I signed up for a library registration.  It takes 5 business days
for the library to process my request.  If, as expected, I
successfully get access to the library's online database, I will get
back to you and that is the end of this request session.  Let's keep
our fingers crossed!  I believe I will be able to get back to you by
the end of next week.   Have a nice weekend!

Best,

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 16 Oct 2003 16:19 PDT

Excellent news...I will wait eagerly to hear from you again.

I also have a bit of additional information.  I inquired about what
happens to access in-between semesters and was told this:  in theory,
your library access privileges should expire at the end of each
semester.  But in practice, the school doesn't get around to purging
the records right away, and if you register again for the next
semester, the odds are pretty good that they'll just leave you in the
system, and your library access will continue uninterrupted.

Let me know what you hear back from CSUDH.

paf

---

Request for Answer Clarification by madison1166-ga on 24 Oct 2003 06:34 PDT

Dear pafalafa-ga:   

I registered for one distance course -- They charged my credit card
within 24 hours and I have been registered.  How efficient!  Then, I
sent a library registration form (I need this in order to use the
online database).
http://library.csudh.edu/rpareg.php
It says, "PLEASE ALLOW 5 WORKING DAYS FOR THE PROCESSING OF YOUR
REQUEST"
OK.  This is the seventh business day, and I still do not have access
to online database.  I sent several email inquiries after 5 working
days to Carol Dales.  I even telephoned her yesterday and left a
message.  Still no answer.
 e-mail:  cdales@csudh.edu
   phone: 310-243-2088

I wonder if I should give up this option, cancel my course
registration immediately and get refund.  Would you be willing to look
for other more reliable options?

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 24 Oct 2003 11:16 PDT

Madison1166-ga,

Sorry to hear that things are moving slowly, but don't despair.  You
WILL get access.

I've spoken to several people at the school who admitted to being
backed up, and who were appropriately apologetic.  They expected to do
a large upload today, so when you get this note, try again, to access
the on-line library and see if you get in.

If you still don't have access by Monday, October 27 (California time,
don't forget), then here's a contact for Naomi, a very helpful staffer
in the library.  Send her an email with all your particulars -- name,
address, ID number (such as a social security number or equivalent),
email and course registration information.  She'll get you
straightened out -- she's good.

Contact:

nmoy@csudh.edu


I feel very confident that this will work out, with a bit of patience.
 So let me know how things are working out.  One way or another, we'll
get you access!

pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 28 Oct 2003 19:33 PST

OUCH!!!!

That really hurt to read...especially after she was so amazingly
helpful to me.  I think we must have stirred up a hornet's nest over
there by asking so many questions about on-line access...though they
DID say it was available.

Anyway...if you want me to, I can certainly ask the editors here to
pull my answer, so that you won't be charged yet, and perhaps another
researcher can jump in with a new solution.

HOWEVER, if you're feeling you have a bit of patience left, I'd like
to try one more thing.

Can you tell me, please, the name of your university, and what your
position/title is...I will use the information to explore the
zero-time appointments that we talked about earlier.

Keep your fingers crossed....

pafalafa-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by madison1166-ga on 29 Oct 2003 12:13 PST

Dear pafalafa-ga:  

I very much admire your research skills and am very happy to be patient.
Looking forward to your great answer before the holiday season, if possible.
http://creation.minidns.net/sugita/cve.htm

---

Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 30 Oct 2003 09:18 PST

Hello once again,

It may be worthwhile to send Naomi Moy a follow-up note as she decides
the fate of your enrollment at CSU.  I've included a draft note for
you to use or modify (or ignore) as you see fit, and will continue to
follow-up on other options as well.

pafalafa-ga

=================

Dear Ms. Moy,

Thank you so much for responding to my earlier note, and for
clarifying the issues you are facing.

As you make your decision regarding my library registration, I would
ask you to keep something at the forefront of your attention.

As I was exploring distance-learning opportunities at CSUDH, I spoke
with four people at your institution, all of whom assured me that,
yes, enrolling in a distance learning course would include access
privileges to the library databases.  Two of the individuals I spoke
with -- Johna in the Distance Learning program, and Gail in the
Extended Education registration office -- went to the trouble of
checking with their supervisors, and with the library, before giving
me an affirmative answer to my question.

I fully understand the need you articulated for CSUDH to review its
policies regarding database access.  Whatever decision you come to
about this, perhaps you can implement your new policies for all future
applicants to your program, but still honor the information you
provided to me regarding my own application, by approving my library
registration status.

I look forward to learning of you decision.

Sincerely,


[name]

==================

Let me know if you send this forward, and what sort of response you
get back.

paf

Excellent researcher!!  Wonderful answer.  This person is dedicated
and trustworthy.  I wish I could have this kind of researcher as my
private secretary!!

Hello Madison1166,

I'll be happy to check on that additional information.  It may take a
day or so to get a full answer for you, but as soon as I have
additional information, I'll post it as a clarification for you.

paf

Dear pafalafa-ga:

Thank you for your help.  I tried now, but it did not go through. I
will try agin next week -- Hope it will work.  I will get back to you
with new development next week.  Thank you again and have a nice
weekend!!

Dear pafalafa-ga:   

I still cannot access to online database.  Naomi has sent me the
following message.  Contrary to what we found, she said that only the
degree students can have access to the database.  We might find
different distance course.

Best,

******************************
I understand why you would like to be able to access databases and
full-text
articles. We are able to offer our students a wealth of information,
including scholarly materials.  However, the course you signed up for
is not
an  academic course requiring the use of databases such as America:
History
and Life.  The library is currently querying other CSU libraries to
find our
their policies on remote access.  We believe that remote access
privileges
should be for students officially enrolled in degree or certificate
programs.

Providing access to you and others who sign up for non-credit training
courses in order to easily and inexpensively access our databases
presents
us with questions and potential problems.  Our signed database
licensing and
costs are based on current FTE and usage by our university's
registered
students, faculty and staff.  Our policy currently even excludes
alumni and
community users who pay to borrow books.  Much to their
disappointment, we
have denied access to other colleges and libraries in our local area. 
In
addition, each of the 23 California State University campuses have to
pay
their own separate subscription fees and our students do not have
access to
the databases of other CSU campuses.

Our sales representative for the ProQuest databases told us that the
New
York Public Library allowed users from around the world to access the
Historical New York Times by registering as library users.  Not only
did the
New York Public Library lose its remote access privilege, all public
libraries are now unable to offer remote access.  Our vendors can
track
usage and IP addresses of users.  Our degree-grantng distance learning
programs rely on remote access to the databases.  Our students are not
the
traditional college students, and even when they live in the area,
they
often have full-time jobs and are unable to come to campus for
extended
hours.  We cannot afford to have remote access capability pulled
because of
suspicious usage of our databases.  We cannot be responsible for
having
remote access denied to other academic institutions.

There are some wider implications as to why we cannot lose any of our
databases or remote access privileges.  Specific databases are
required for
the accreditation of our programs.  Accrediting bodies not only check
our
databases online, they ask for written reports of our holdings and
include
the library in their visits to campus.  Several of our distance
learning
programs would be affected.  Our ability to offer databases may even
be tied
to enrollment.  In the past, when we had fewer full-text titles
available,
some students said that they will pull out of our CSUDH program and go
to
another campus where it would be easier to get the information they
need.
Enrollment is tied to our campus budget.

Your library registration is being held pending further study of the
CSU
library policies.  

Sincerely,

Naomi Moy
Director, Reference Services
California State University, Dominguez Hills
800 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
(310) 243-2086
nmoy@csudh.edu

Dear pafalafa-ga:

Thank you very much for your help.  I edited your draft a little bit
and sent it to Naomi.  Hope it works as a temporary measure.
I cannot thank you enough for your continuous help.

Best,

I'm afraid I can't accept the private secretary job, but you'll always
know where to find me if you need me.

Thanks for your kindness and generosity...it's much appreciated.  And
best of luck in your research.

pafalafa-ga