Re: Reed Elsevier results

[Ken Masters <kmasters@ithealthed.com>]

Hi All

Joe, it might be true that library strategies have not been as 
effective as they might have been.  (One I would like to have 
seen is a few more banding together and holding firm against 
outrageous contracts, but I also know that they work within 
institution and other restraints.)  But this is speculation; 
perhaps you could supply some references pointing to this as a 
cause for their financial problems.

In any case, however, it doesn't alter the main point of my 
argument - I don't believe that increased profits from commercial 
publishers is a comment on the growth of OA.

Regards

Ken

Dr. Ken Masters
Asst. Professor: Medical Informatics
Medical Education Unit
College of Medicine & Health Sciences
Sultan Qaboos University
Sultanate of Oman


On 3 August 2011 02:31, Joseph Esposito <espositoj@gmail.com> wrote:

> Perhaps there is a different lesson to be drawn from this, Ken. 
> Perhaps the point is that the strategies libraries have been 
> using to reduce their costs are not effective.  One can get in 
> high dudgeon because it feels good, but is it effective? 
> Rather than talk about the morality of academic publishing, why 
> not focus on the economics and strategy?
>
> Joe Esposito
>
> On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 7:45 PM, Ken Masters 
> <kmasters@ithealthed.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi All
>>
>> Increased profits from commercial publishers do not in any way 
>> negate a statement that OA has massive growth. There could be 
>> many reasons that Reed Elsevier has increased its profits,
>>
>> Reducing costs is one way to increase profits (This is 
>> discussed in the article). Increasing prices of publications 
>> and big deal contracts is another. This does not appear to be 
>> mentioned in the article, but those of you who deal with 
>> library budgets can comment on that.
>>
>> Still it's nice to know that, in the midst of a world 
>> financial crisis (where education institutions and libraries 
>> are being forced to lay off staff, cut services, reduce 
>> operating hours, etc., because of massive financial cuts) 
>> Ccompanies that supply publications to those same institutions 
>> are able to make such impressive profits from those 
>> institutions. I'm sure many librarians sleep more easily at 
>> night knowing this.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Ken
>>
>> Dr. Ken Masters
>> Asst. Professor: Medical Informatics
>> Medical Education Unit
>> College of Medicine & Health Sciences
>> Sultan Qaboos University
>> Sultanate of Oman
>>
>> On 29 July 2011 01:43, Joseph Esposito <espositoj@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Here is a financial analysis of Reed Elsevier's recent
>>> performance:
>>>
>>> http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/4191921/Reed-Elsevier-improves-as-margins-grow.html
>>>
>>> The results are good. Specifically cited in the report is the 
>>> strength in subscription revenues.
>>>
>>> Although this list regularly receives missives about "the 
>>> dramatic growth of open access" and the death of the Big 
>>> Deal, when you actually look at the facts, the environment 
>>> seems mostly unchanged.
>>>
>>> Joe Esposito