RE: Librarians, Publishing Behavior, & Open Access

["Mcsean, Tony (ELS)" <T.Mcsean@elsevier.com>]

The corporation providing the quotation in Bill's contribution may well be
Elsevier, and I feel that it's worth pointing out that earnings per share
(EPS) are pretty well independent of pricing policy.  We can all point to
examples where a company's financial performance has suffered through high
price increases and others where the same thing has happened through low
price increases.  EPS targets hang on strength of product line, costs, new
products, acquisitions and de-mergers - just to name a few factors not
involving accountancy.

Happily, the mention of double-digit price rises can't be Elsevier, since
five years ago we pledged ourselves to increases which were both single
digit and at the bottom end of the industry range.  In 2005 this
translated to an overall increase of 5.5%, with continuing profitability
sustained (we trust!) by these other means.

As you can imagine, I have a particularly personal stake in the idea that
some in our profession are trying to work with the for-profit industry.

Tony

Tony McSe�n
Director of Library Relations
Elsevier
+44 7795 960516
+44 1865 843630

-----Original Message-----
[mailto:owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of William Walsh
Sent: 08 February 2005 02:05
To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Librarians, Publishing Behavior, & Open Access

Jill makes some good points.  However, if a corporation's stated goal is
"to deliver on its long-term targets of above market revenue growth and
double digit adjusted EPS growth at constant currencies in 2005 and
beyond," what is wrong with some in the profession pointing out that most
institutions cannot continue to afford to contribute to this growth
through annual double digit or near double digit subscription increases?

Whether or not some librarians and library organizations are hypocritical
about open access (which should be a separate issue), isn't this what much
of this conversation comes down to?

This doesn't seem divisive; it seems realistic.  And I suspect many in our
profession do feel they are trying to work with the for profit publishing
community.

Bill

William Walsh
Head, Acquisitions Department
Georgia State University Library
Atlanta, GA 30303
Email:  wwalsh@gsu.edu