NOTE: THIS IS THE 1ST OF 5 POSTINGS SUMMARIZING DISCUSSIONS AT ALA
MID-WINTER FROM THE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT LIBRARIANS OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
DISCUSSION GROUP
From: "June K. Schmidt" <JSchmidt_at_library.msstate.edu>
Collection Development Librarians of Academic Libraries Discussion Group
Topic 1. How can consortial purchasing provide funding to add new
journals and databases?
Facilitator: Kathy Tezla, Carleton College
The three library consortia on which the participants based their comments
were the University of California Digital Library, SAALCK (State-Assisted
Academic Library Council of Kentucky), and MINITEX Library Information Network.
The various decision making processes were shared: the consortium does all
the vendor/product selection and negotiation on behalf of the libraries.
Once the negotiations are completed, members can pick and choose which
vendor/product they would like to sign with at the discounted price. Some
consortia have collection development committees, with representatives from
the member libraries, who participate in the selection process. Discussion
participants believe that individual collection development librarians
experience a loss of control over the titles and packages that are finally
negotiated.
Participants believe that consortia are able to negotiate more favorable
license agreements with vendors and publishers than individual libraries
can. Some like the "organized business relationship" of a consortium.
The group acknowledged that while consortial discounts can provide limited
funding to assist with the purchase of library materials, the savings are
not generally significant enough to purchase new journals and
databases. Multi-year consortial license agreements usually guarantee a
rate increase less than the increase applied to individual libraries. The
guarantee provides some savings and is very helpful for projecting future
serials expenditures.
The main advantage of consortial purchasing is the opportunity to gain
access to holdings of partner libraries. Such arrangements can provide
access to electronic resources individual libraries cannot afford on their
own.
Submitted by:
June Schmidt
Associate Dean for Technical Services
Mitchell Memorial Library
P.O. Box 5408
Mississippi State, MS 39762
662-325-7672
Received on Fri Feb 17 2006 - 02:24:29 EST