Lets start putting the shoe on the other foot here. If you've got print archives, then tell the publisher you only want archives from certain years - say 2000 onwards because you have the print version from that time backwards. 

Lets get picky with their current / all or nothing online collections. Go into individual licences and query the file lengths - ask them to change it. It's long-winded and tedious, but they have to devote as much time to it as you do. 

The revolution begins... (OK it's Friday and I'm overdosed on caffeine and ready for a fight with BMJ over next years pricing!!!)

Andy Richardson
Electronic Services Manager
electronic Knowledge Access Team   eKAT
London Health Libraries
20, Guilford St
London WC1N 1DZ 
[log in to unmask]
tel. 0207 692 3388
mobile 07739303494
Weblog :  http://andyrffc.blogspot.com/



-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by the UK Serials Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Linda Davies
Sent: 26 November 2004 10:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Springer's latest rip off

Hi

I have checked the archive, but can't find any discussion of Springer's latest move. I wondered if anyone else is as annoyed as I am that Springer are now expecting us to pay an additional fee for "enhanced" access to our subscribed titles in 2005.  The so called enhancement is the option to pay more to Springer to retain our access to the volumes from 2004 backwards. This isn't an archive deal - it is material that we've already paid for in our subscriptions over the years. 

I don't regard this as an enhancement, I regard it as a rip-off and I have told the Schools that I liaise with exactly what I think.

It could cost one of our Schools over £6K to maintain access, on top of the huge subs they already pay.  The average increase is 15%, with one title having a massive 31% increase.  My advice to this School would be to cancel the whole lot in order to send a message to Springer that this is unacceptable.  Unfortunately they won' t be in a position to do this.  

I suspect the response from Springer will be that the e access was "free" in the past - but we all know that for most publishers free e access was granted at the same time as an almighty print price hike several years ago.

Just wondered if anyone else was feeling as irate as me.  I'm off to move Springer up my list of most loathed publishers.

best wishes
Linda

--
Linda Davies, Science & Biomedical Sciences Librarian,
Information Services, Cardiff University
PO Box 430, CARDIFF, CF24 0DE
Tel: 029 2087 0075.  Email: [log in to unmask]



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