ICOLC SAYS PRICING REMAINS A TOP CONCERN
According to a recent statement from the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC), library consortia "must achieve greater value for their money." In a recent update to its earlier statements on preferred practices, ICOLC takes aim at a familiar target—publisher pricing models in the digital realm. Endorsed thus far by over 50 library consortia in 12 countries, the update is both a snapshot of the difficulties plaguing academic libraries in the e-journal realm and a blueprint for change. "Today’s publishers act globally to provide electronic information," the statement notes. "It is incumbent upon libraries to act globally to express their market positions." While the update addresses a full range of issues in the digital realm, including access, preservation, and usage reporting, it emphasizes economic and pricing matters, which, it notes, "have remained a significant concern" since the first meetings of the ICOLC in 1996. "ICOLC members are concerned that, amid all the changes in scholarly publishing, the annual cost to libraries of maintaining information access continues to rise far more rapidly than either inflation or library budgets, which are, in many cases, flat or decreasing." Specifically, the ICOLC recommends that "non-disclosure language" not be required for any licensing agreement; that libraries should have the option to purchase electronic access without the paper subscription; that electronic access should cost substantially less than the printed subscription price; and that bundling electronic and print subscriptions in "non-flexible multi-year packages" must not be the sole pricing option for libraries. The statement also calls for "breathing room" within bundled deals, allowing libraries to cancel titles within their packages as budgets may dictate. The inflexibility of big deals has been a major sticking point for libraries in the last round renewals for Elsevier’s leading ScienceDirect, sparking a number of high-profile cancellations in 2004. "Package deals have been useful for various consortial customers and will continue to have utility," ICOLC notes, but adding that amid uncertain multi-year budget situations; publishers must also "build reasonable possibilities for orderly attrition" within those agreements. The update suggests that publishers allow libraries to trim unused titles and provide a credit; allow libraries to delete titles and recoup a percentage of the dollar value of the subscription price for those titles; provide cancellation allowances for each year. The ICOLC update also includes a vote of confidence for the role of subscription agents in the digital arena. As publishers have morphed into service providers in the digital realm, the administration of those deals has impacted on libraries. ICOLC notes that the roles of subscription agents may change, but should not be eliminated. "ICOLC members are supportive of changes in the arrangements for purchase of and access to electronic content," the statement reads, "but many continue to wish to work with serials agents and other parties to manage their subscriptions during this period of change." To read the full update, visit: http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia/2004currentpractices.htm
Library Journal Academic News Wire: October 28, 2004
