Librarians push back against complicated e-packages

[Ann Okerson <ann.okerson@yale.edu>]

This news clip, from Outsell's e-briefs, reports on a session at the 
recent SLA meeting.  Of possible interest to readers.  The Moderators


==========================================
Outsell's e-briefs           June 13, 2003
A Weekly Analysis of Events and Issues 
Affecting the Information Content Industry
==========================================

[SNIP SNIP SNIP]

E-Subs: Back to the Future

At the SLA conference this week, a standing-room-only session pitted irate
content buyers, ready for a fight, against a panel of publishers and
aggregators. Highest on buyers' exasperation list is the extinction of the
print-journal purchasing model - from simpler times when subscription
agents consolidated subscriptions, ordering and invoicing, and provided
standard annual price listings. "Why can't you publish your [e-journal]
subscription prices and remove the car-dealership bartering from the
process?" one frustrated buyer asked, to enthusiastic applause.

Buyers are fed up with having to negotiate terms, publisher by publisher,
subscription by subscription, and devoting increased staff time to a
low-value activity. There is some progress; Elsevier and EBSCO described a
partnership that's making e-journal subscriptions work more like the old
subscription agent system after prices are set, but the constant
requirement for price and terms negotiation has yet to be adequately
addressed. Outsell's newly published Briefing on corporate information
professionals (see below) identifies a slowdown in the pace of libraries'
move to digital environments. The complexity of e-journal purchasing
models and methods is certainly one reason for that slowdown.

Buyers are also increasingly interested in pay-per-view, where the
document is the unit of purchase, not the journal, and libraries continue
to replace some subscriptions with pay per view. The bottom line is that
publishers, aggregators, and document delivery providers have yet to find
the models that fit the needs of these frustrated buyers. That's what
happens when vendors are more concerned with preserving revenue than with
trying to find the new model that fits the new technology.

[SNIP]

============================================================
We want to hear your feedback, and we want to publish your 
comments on the events we cover in e-briefs (anonymously
if you prefer).  Send comments, news, insights to:
David Curle
Editor, e-briefs
Outsell, Inc.
mail to:dcurle@outsellinc.com
============================================================

Redistribution:

Outsell's e-briefs is a subscription service. Individual subscribers may
not redistribute to other persons without permission. Company subscribers
have the right to distribute content freely within their
companies/institutions, but not to persons outside their
companies/institutions without permission.

Subscriptions:

Visit our Web site at http://www.outsellinc.com to order subscriptions to
e-briefs. Rates are as follows:

$395 for an individual subscription.  Single reader with no redistribution
rights.

$1995 for a company subscription.  Includes the right to redistribute to
any number of readers within your company/institution.  e-briefs is
delivered on Fridays, 48 issues per year.

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

Outsell is the only research and advisory firm that focuses exclusively on
the Information Content Industry. As an independent adviser, we emphasize
close relationships with our clients and deliver high-quality, fact-based
research, analysis, and advice about every aspect of content strategy,
deployment, and use to a wide range of vendors, buyers, and users of
information.

Founded in 1994, Outsell helps world-class content vendors, Global 2000
companies, government agencies, and leading educational institutions
increase their understanding of users and end-markets, assess content
quality and effectiveness, benchmark operations, hire and retain
executives, and develop more successful internal and commercial content
products and services.

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

Outsell, Inc.'s information, analysis, opinion, and reports (the
"Information") are based on qualitative and/or quantitative research
methods and its staff's extensive professional expertise in the industry.  
Outsell, Inc. has used its best efforts and judgment in the compilation
and presentation of the Information and believes the Information is
accurate as of the date furnished, but the industry and the Information
are subject to rapid change.  Except as aforesaid, Outsell, Inc. makes no
other representations or warranties, express or implied, concerning or
relating to the Information.  Copyright 2002 Outsell, Inc.
============================================================