Dear Nik et al,
I am sorry to hear of your surprise and disappointment at the BL's reluctant announcement that we will not be renewing Document Supply Subscriptions when the current contract period expires at the end of July 2012. When the subscription was launched in 2009 it was initially for a 2 year period and was always intended to be subject to review to ensure that cost recovery was maintained.
Unfortunately the subscription model in its current format is unsustainable. The level of subscription required for the BL to maintain cost recovery exceeds the savings Subscribers are able to make on the basis of their current transactional volumes. For example, to make the current model work we would probably have to double the subscription fees for a significant number of high volume users.
The difficult decision not to continue with the subscription service is independent of recent changes within the Document Supply & Information Services Sales Team. We believe that withdrawal from the subscription model at this time will provide us with opportunity to fully explore alternative pricing models as the benefits of BLDSS begin to emerge.
Transactional Service pricing for HE's, NHS organisations and Public Libraries from 1st August will be:
Electronic Delivery £6.25 + vat
Mail delivery £7.75
Loan £ 11.60
These prices continue to give you a substantial discount of over 40% on our standard services and reflect the benefit we derive from mutual collaboration and your continued support for this national resource. The benefits of the UKRR Subscription are unaffected by this change.
Kind Regards
Sue Allison
Customer Services Team Manager
The British Library
Boston Spa
WETHERBY
West Yorkshire
LS23 7BQ
www.bl.uk
T +44 (0) 1937 546051
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-----Original Message-----
From: For interlibrary-loan and document supply services. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hussin, Nik
Sent: 01 May 2012 14:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: End of BL's subscription service
Hi Caroline and Graham
Thanks very much for your replies. And Linda in Stirling too.
Caroline, I wouldn't want to be that BL person at the session next week. But yes, any information would be very welcome.
Anything to numb the pain.
Nik
-----Original Message-----
From: For interlibrary-loan and document supply services. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Graham Titley
Sent: 01 May 2012 13:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: End of BL's subscription service
Hi All
I have asked Customer Services at BL to respond to this thread - so hopefully we should get some information soon.
Cheers
Graham
Graham Titley
Subject Librarian and Copyright Advisor
Charles Seale Hayne Library
Plymouth University
Drake Circus
Plymouth
PL4 8AA
Tel: 01752 587162
Email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: For interlibrary-loan and document supply services. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rauter C.
Sent: 01 May 2012 13:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: End of BL's subscription service
Dear Nik,
Like you I was dismayed to receive the email from the BL earlier today informing us of the forthcoming end to the subscription model.
Their email says that they have not yet publicised the new transactional charges for August.
The FIL workshop to be held in Cardiff next week is hosting a speaker from the BL for a "BL Update" session.
In the absence of any further information from the BL in the interim, I will be happy to report back to the list once we have had the opportunity to quiz them over this unwelcome change.
Regards
Caroline
Caroline Rauter
Document Supply Services / Gwasanaethau Darparu Dogfennau Information Services & Systems / Gwasanaethau Gwybodaeth a Systemau Swansea University / Prifysgol Abertawe Singleton Park / Parc Singleton Swansea / Abertawe
SA2 8PP
+44 (0)1792 295045
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For information on all our resources in one place visit:
http://bit.ly/srhe71
-----Original Message-----
From: For interlibrary-loan and document supply services. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nik Tahirah Hussin
Sent: 01 May 2012 13:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: End of BL's subscription service
Dear colleagues
Does anyone know why the BL is ending their subscription service?
We've had no warning that this was going to happen and were continuing to believe that we would benefit from the discounted prices made available under the subscription model.
I know Barry Smith has left the BL and when I spoke to Pavan Ramrakha (who has also left the BL) recently, he was saying that the BL's sales department that had been based in London is being moved entirely to Boston Spa. Maybe it's because of this that they're discontinuing the subscription service? It was the sales department in London that was managing the subscription accounts.
Also, anybody know where I can get up-to-date information about what the transactional price will be come August 2012?
Many thanks
Nik Tahirah Hussin
Learning Resource Centre
Queen Margaret University
Musselburgh
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