Re: Future of the "subscription model?"

[Ann Okerson <aokerson@gmail.com>]

Fred:  In library training, we learned that the basic definition 
of serials is "publications intended to be continued 
indefinitely." (Or at least for some time to come.)  By my 
lights, then, a "subscription" represents any ongoing, regular 
payment for such continuing publications.

Does this help with definitions?  Ann

On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 8:21 PM, FrederickFriend 
<ucylfjf@ucl.ac.uk> wrote:

> Well, Ann, if you wanted to start a controversial thread, I
> suspect you will have succeeded! Let me ask for clarification on
> the definition of the topic. I assume that you are asking about
> subscriptions in relation to journals or works in series. And I
> wonder how precise you want to be in your definition of
> "subscription"? I am not sure, for example, that a "big deal"
> counts as a subscription. I have thought of a "big deal" as being
> a licence for a specific period of time, and - in my view - part
> of the problem we have currently is that "big deals" have
> swallowed up journals which would otherwise be available on
> subscription. Anybody who knows me will not be surprised to learn
> that I see OA models as replacing both "big deals" and individual
> subscriptions to a large extent, but there will certainly be
> disagreement amongst liblicense subscribers about the extent and
> the timing of that development.
>
> Fred Friend
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Ann Okerson
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 11:08 PM
> To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> Subject: Future of the "subscription model?"
>
> Liblicense-l Readers:  What do you all imagine as the future of
> the "subscription model" for purchasing academic library
> collections?  Is it alive and well and growing or is it on its
> way out, supplanted by memberships, open access, and a growing
> variety of other options for obtaining publications, particularly
> electronic?
>
> Your thoughts are most welcomed.  Ann Okerson