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Re: Reed Elsevier results

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) companies 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