RE: FTE-based pricing

["Tracy L. Thompson" <tracy.thompson@yale.edu>]

I would really like to find a forum for a back-to-basics 
discussion about pricing models for e-resources and the 
justifications for or arguments against them.  I entered the 
discussion in the mid-90s after the basic terms had already been 
established. I don't know what the original arguments were. How 
did we even get to usage-based pricing? What industry built that 
model and how did we buy into it for information? Does it still 
hold up? What about the inherent value of the content independent 
of usage? And what about pricing models based upon "maintaining 
print spend?" How does that make sense for the consumer?  And 
what should we be advocating as the 'best' model for all 
involved, not just library/consumers and not just 
vendor/publishers.

I feel like it's time to revisit all of these models and at least 
reassure ourselves that they still hold water.  If anyone else 
would be interested in a dialogue, or has some background or 
insight they'd like to share, please respond to me directly and 
I'll see if there is enough interest to plan a webinar or 
something.

Cheers,
Tracy

At 02:46 PM 10/12/2006, Stefanie Wittenbach wrote:
> I personally believe that FTE-based pricing is quite harmful to
> the library community for the following reasons:
>
> Use is not necessarily tied to the institution's FTE. Growing
> campuses are penalized because the price continues to increase,
> but the users of the resource may not be growing in the same way.
>
> If anything, I think database pricing should be a flat rate or
> flat rate plus some factor for high use.
>
> Stefanie
>
> Stefanie Wittenbach
> Assistant Dean, Collections
> John Peace Library
> The University of Texas at San Antonio
> San Antonio, TX  78249-0671
> stefanie.wittenbach@utsa.edu
****

> [mailto:owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Porzio, Steve
> Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 6:31 PM
> To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
> Subject: FTE-based pricing
>
> The American Statistical Association (ASA)  is considering a 
> change from its current flat-rate charge for web access to its 
> journals to a tiered, FTE-based pricing structure. I am seeking 
> librarians familiar with various journal pricing structures who 
> would be willing to answer a few questions and give me their 
> general thoughts on this potential change. We strongly wish to 
> avoid harming relations with our library patrons and would much 
> prefer to collaborate with those who purchase our journals. If 
> you are willing to provide input, please contact me at 
> steve@amstat.org.
>
> The ASA is, among many other things, a non-profit publisher of 
> statistical journals. More info may be found at 
> www.amstat.org/publications.
>
> ***************************
> Stephen Porzio
> Associate Executive Director and
>      Director of Operations
> American Statistical Association
> Alexandria, Virginia 22314-1943
> www.amstat.org
*********************************
Tracy L. Thompson, Executive Director
New England Law Library Consortium (NELLCO)
www.nellco.org
603-357-3385 (voice)
603-357-2075 (fax)
tracy.thompson@yale.edu