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Providing electronic access to journals is still a large and frustrating management task after a number of years of national attempts by bodies such as NESLI to facilitate procedures. From recent LIS-E_JOURNALS list traffic, things seem to be getting worse, with journals such as Nature charging such outrageous fees for online access that large libraries globally (eg Harvard University) are deciding not to subscribe; and patrons coming across 'missing' journal issues on Ingenta. I am copying this to LIS-LINK in an attempt to open up this debate. Would anyone from JISC, CHEST, NESLI, the LA, other national and international professional bodies care to comment? Leaving things to market forces is beginning to look like a massively wasteful way to proceed, while our patrons are wondering why we are not delivering what the hype has promised. Barbara Merchant =========================================================== Barbara Merchant [log in to unmask] Head of Library and Information Services SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research Mantell Building, University of Sussex Brighton BN1 9RF Phone: 01273 678066 Fax: 01273 685865 Web: http://www.susx.ac.uk/spru/ SPRU Library catalogue: http://sprulib.central.susx.ac.uk/ =========================================================== -- Begin original message -- > From: Phillip Ruston <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 10:52:40 -0000 > Subject: Re: Nature > To: [log in to unmask] > Reply-To: "An informal open list, set up under the auspices of the United > Kingdom Seri" <[log in to unmask]> > Received: from [130.246.192.50] (helo=jiscmail.ac.uk) > by rinka.central.susx.ac.uk with esmtp (Exim 3.20 #3) > id 14QSC7-0005Gh-00; Wed, 07 Feb 2001 10:51:27 +0000 > > Jackie and everyone, > > Affluence doesn't really come into it - we have budgets too and we are > concerned with getting value as we ultimately have to prove we get a > business benefit from the money we spend. > > I can't comment on our Nature deal as I did not negotiate this; I can say > that we have elected not to take a particular core title from one particular > publisher as it was too expensive to justify. > > This does beg the question: if "affluent" companies are thinking twice about > purchasing online titles, maybe it's simply a question of the products being > too expensive full stop, rather than aiming them at a particular market ? > > Phillip > > --------------------------------------- > Phillip Ruston, Systems Librarian > Research Library (ipc 855) > Pfizer Global Research & Development, Sandwich Laboratories > Ramsgate Road > Sandwich > Kent > United Kingdom > CT 13 9NJ > http://www.pfizer.co.uk > > Email: [log in to unmask] > > UK Contact: > Tel: 01304 641140 > Fax: 01304 658300 > > International: > Tel: +44 1304 641140 > Fax: +44 1304 641140 > > LEGAL NOTICE > > Unless expressly stated otherwise, this message is confidential and may > be privileged. It is intended for the addressee(s) only. Access to this > e-mail by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not an addressee, any > disclosure or copying of the contents of this e-mail or any action taken > (or not taken) in reliance on it is unauthorised and may be unlawful. If > you are not an addressee, please inform the sender immediately. > > Pfizer Limited is registered in England under No. 526209 with its > registered office at Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bower, Jackie [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 07 February 2001 09:47 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Nature > > > PFIZER GLOBAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > This message and any attachment has been virus checked by the > PGRD Sandwich Data Centre. > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > I work for a leading medical device company and we cannot afford these > licences either. > > The prices seem to be aimed at the more affluent pharmaceutical companies! > > Jackie Bower > > -----Original Message----- > From: Roy Davies [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 07 February 2001 09:50 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Nature > > > I wonder who exactly the publishers expect to sign up for > online access? Have they deliberately turned their backs on > the academic market? Obviously large science-based firms > will be able to afford it but it would be interesting to > know how many (if any) universities have decided to > subscribe to the online version. > > I suspect that if Nature reduced the price by 90% the > number of academic customers would increase much more > than ten-fold and the publishers would probably earn more > money, even taking into account their increased > administration costs etc. > > Roy Davies > University Library > University of Exeter > Stocker Road > Exeter EX4 4PT > UK > PFIZER GLOBAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > This message and any attachment has been virus checked by the > PGRD Sandwich Data Centre. > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > -- End original message --