Most modern media libraries are as much, if not exclusively, virtual spaces as physical ones. Holding reference information in online databases rather than books on shelves has given many managers the idea that the library can be dispensed with. Yet authoritative subscription products do not appear on the company intranet or desktop by accident. Considerable work has been put in by those managing the subscriptions, to ensure that the right product has been selected, at the right price, on the right platform in such a way that their users can access it transparently and know how to use it. They may also have given time to send regular feedback to the online publishers or attend focus groups to ensure that the product remains useful and relevant. Many of these issues were faced by librarians managing reference subscriptions in hard copy. However, new issues have emerged which are specific to products being online, issues which media librarians, normally the earliest users in their organizations of online products like Dialog, DataStar and FT Profile, are ideally placed to confront.

The authors have extensive experience administering and managing online subscriptions. Joanne Playfoot manages the InfoCentre information team at IPC Magazines, publisher of consumer and lifestyle titles. Managing and controlling users’ access to subscription products within the library has given their unit new status and prominence within the organization. Katharine Schopflin has worked with online subscriptions for a number of employers, most notably for BBC Information & Archives’ research.gateway intranet site, where she acted as the liaison point between vendors and users. They bring their experience to examinesome of the main issues that emerge when managing online subscriptions and why it is important this is done by information staff. A media library's news database subscription is likely to be at the centre of its subscription portfolio, and this chapter looks at this kind of subscription specifically first. However, many media libraries also subscribe to online products offering future events information, biographies or material concerning subject specialisms such as finance, celebrities or defence and the chapter also looks at more general subscription management issues.