this debate seems to have overlooked the role of 'aggregators' such as EBSCO. It might also be useful to have a brief contribution from NESLI since they negotiate the deals with the suppliers/publishers on behalf of the HE community.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gary Borrows [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 2:47 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: Online journals
>
> When we buy more than one title, we buy a 'bundle'. The
> important distinction is who selects the titles. 'Bundles' put together
> by publishers/suppliers are like hampers: some choice selections; some
> staple items and some makeweights. 'Bundles' put together by the
> customers reflect real needs. So to my mind it would always be the
> second option - except for Christmas, birthdays and subject reviews
> (sic). 'Never mind the quality, feel the width' is gaining support.
>
> I can see the attractions of these 'e-bundles' to suppliers and their
> marketing staff but if the supplier wants to attract more business then
> perhaps they should also offer the time honoured alternative: the bigger
> your order ('bundle'), the bigger your discount.
>
> Gary Borrows
> Subject & Research Support
>
> On Fri, 27 Oct 2000 10:51:40 +0100 Colin Sinclair
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >
> > I agree with Judy on this. Our budgets for both resources and staff are not
> > so generous as to allow us to spend money and time on titles that do not
> > support teaching and research at the university. We have done so as we have
> > purchased bundles of journals from a number of publishers, but I'm y unsure
> > of it as a model for other publishers to follow.
> > One or two colleagues, however, have suggested that there is value in
> > getting access to a wide range of material, making it available and letting
> > the user decide - usage statistics then become a key tool in assessing the
> > value of any material.
> > I guess the ideal solution, then, is to be offfered a choice - electronic
> > access individually - priced sensibly (remember we often struggle to fund
> > print subs, hefty increases for e-access aren't sustainable), options on
> > print only, e-only and print and electronic with perhaps an option on
> > bundles of titles if that is attractive to some libraries.
> > Also note Ian Noble's point on the access options - and remember many of us
> > have other campus libraries around the country and large numbers of
> > off-campus users.
> >
> > Colin.
> > ___________________________________
> > Colin Sinclair
> > Head of Bibliographic Services
> > University of Stirling
> > STIRLING
> > FK9 4LA
> > Tel: 01786 - 467218
> > Fax: 01786 - 466866
> > email: [log in to unmask]
> > ___________________________________
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Fraser [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: 26 October 2000 15:50
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: RE: Online journals
> > >
> > > Thanks very much for this, Judy. It's precisely for useful feedback such
> > > as
> > > this that I sent the original email, as of course it's imperative that we
> > > deliver what libraries want, rather than what we want them to want! All
> > > our
> > > journals will be available individually, both online and in print, so
> > > institutions that want to subscribe to just one or two or a handful can do
> > > so. Of course, the flip-side of this is that they will be paying the
> > > standard subscription rate, rather than the heavily discounted
> > > cost-per-title of the e-Bundle.
> > >
> > > Out of interest, what would you consider to be an appropriate price for a
> > > multi-user, full-text electronic journal?
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Judy Taylor [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > > Sent: 26 October 2000 16:33
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: Online journals>
> > >
> > >
> > > I hate to sound as if I'm striking at the very root of your proposal
> > > and all that, but the way to make your electronic journals attractive
> > > to libraries is not, repeat *not*, to bundle them. The last thing
> > > libraries want is to be tied to an all-in deal at a price they can
> > > barely afford under which they are subsidising titles they don't want
> > > (often, titles that nobody very much wants). I think it would be fair
> > > to say that MCB's espousal of this pricing strategy has brought
> > > them a fair measure of unpopularity among their (now quite often
> > > ex-) customers: you might be wise to do a bit more market
> > > research on this one.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Date sent: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 13:53:52 +0100
> > > Subject: Online journals
> > > From: Fraser <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: "[log in to unmask]"
> > > <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Send reply to: [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > > > Hallo, I hope you can help. Henry Stewart Publications publishes a
> > > > range of quarterly journals, many of which are - or are soon to be -
> > > > available online. We will shortly be offering academic libraries
> > > > electronic access to an 'e-bundle' of approximately 15 management and
> > > > marketing journals, at a significantly reduced price-per-journal.
> > > > This will be not dissimilar to the Emerald service provided by MCB.
> > > >
> > > > In order for this venture to be a success, we need to be sure that we
> > > > are offering academic libraries precisely what they need, at as little
> > > > cost to them as possible. I would therefore welcome any suggestions as
> > > > to how we should structure this e-Bundle, in terms of delivery
> > > > (Internet access [IP addresses or passwords?], PDFs or HTML on CD-Rom
> > > > for intranet access?), pricing, and to whom we should be making our
> > > > offer (E-librarian? Head of Electronic Collections? Something else?)
> > > >
> > > > We believe that this e-Bundle will ultimately represent tremendous
> > > > value for money for our library subscribers who be able to provide
> > > > wider access to more content, more cost-effectively. I hope you'll be
> > > > able to help to ensure we are best place to deliver this, and hope to
> > > > hear from you.
> > > >
> > > > Information about our journals can be found at
> > > > http://www.henrystewart.co.uk/hspindex.html
> > > >
> > > > Kind regards
> > > >
> > > > Fraser Tant
> > > > Marketing Manager
> > > > Henry Stewart Publications
> > > > e: mailto:[log in to unmask]
> > > > t: +44 (0)20 7323 2916 x103
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Judy Taylor
> > > Assistant Librarian
> > > (Periodicals / Academic Liaison)
> > > DUNDEE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
> > > DUNDEE DD1 4HN
> > > tel: extn 5184, external dial 01382-345184
>
> Gary Borrows e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> tel: 01782 294553
>
> Library and Information Service
> PO Box 664
> Staffordshire University
> College Road
> Stoke-on-Trent
> Staffordshire
> ST4 2XS
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