Elsevier ScienceDirect contracts

["Menefee, Daviess (ELS)" <D.Menefee@elsevier.com>]

Recently a reader of this list posted a question regarding the reason for
the difference in the pricing of ScienceDirect contracts.  The following
explains the variations among the ScienceDirect agreements.

There are four types of contracts available to ScienceDirect customers.
Each varies according to the amount of content available, the types of
functionality available, and the archival rights.  Each customer decides
which contract best meets the needs of their institution taking into
consideration a number of factors and including price.

Let's take a moment and look at each of these and see what they offer.

1. ScienceDirect Web Editions.  This is electronic access to any subscribed
   journals and has a backfile of twelve rolling months.  It offers browse
   capability but not searching, linking and personalization.  In short, 
   the flexibility of choosing titles and the electronic access fees are 
   included in the full price of the print holdings.  

2. ScienceDirect Standard Limited Contract.  This offering has more features
   than Web Editions and provides the full functionality of ScienceDirect,
   including all abstracts, full text searching, linking, personalization, 
   and the ability to add Backfiles and Reference Works as well as a Pay 
   Per View option.  It provides four years of rolling backfile that 
   continues to build throughout the license.  Archiving rights are also 
   included.  The library makes the choice on a title-by-title basis as to 
   which journals it wants to receive in electronic form.  This choice can 
   change from year to year and is not tied to any historical print 
   holdings.  The price is a standard rate set at 25% fee based on the 
   selected print subscriptions.  

3. ScienceDirect Standard Complete Contract.  This is the ScienceDirect
   offering most customers chose since it provides all the same benefits 
   as the Standard Limited plan but includes the additional option for 
   enhancing access to content through Subject Collections, Consortia 
   Collections and the Freedom Collection.  Price is based on historical 
   print subscriptions as well as a commitment from the customer to 
   maintain their collection.  Based on the customer's commitment, the 
   electronic fee is discounted by 50% to 12.5%.  The Complete Contract 
   also provides archiving rights.

4. ScienceDirect Freedom Plan.  In short, this plan is available to
   customers who have purchased the Complete offering and it allows them 
   to purchase access to all of the available ScienceDirect content to 
   which they do not subscribe at a very reduced rate.  The consortia and 
   subject collection models follow the same principle.

A comparison of the models may be viewed at:
<http://www.info.sciencedirect.com/licensing_options/index.shtml>

So why this type of pricing?

1. To provide the most access to scholarly material at traditional levels,
   namely what content institutions have determined met their needs.
   Historical print subscriptions have been the basis.

2. To increase this access, where possible, with a variety of additional
   content models.

3. To add value to the content by enhancing it with full text searching,
   integrated linking throughout the content, and sophisticated filters
   (Alerts, Personal Journal lists, Saved Searches).

4. To continue investing in digitizing collections and creating productive
   features and functionality for scientists and researchers.

In sum, these models currently provide a means of acquiring access to as
much content and as many features as possible given the limitations of the
library's budget.

Daviess Menefee
Library Relations
Elsevier