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Caught between Print and Electronic

BIBSAM, the department for national co-ordination and development, Kungl, Biblioteket, National Library of Sweden, kari.stange{at}kb.se

The BIBSAM consortium in Sweden has licensed e-journals since 1998. During this period several different business models have been tested. This paper describes some of the experiences gained along the way. The key issue is to strive for models that are cost efficient when taking the whole life cycle of licensing e-journal content into account. The models with the highest potential for cost efficiency for consortia are the ‘big deals’ where all members have identical access rights and where the same terms apply for all journals licensed. This is in conflict with the need for flexibility often expressed by individual libraries. Parallel purchase of both print and electronic formats adds considerably to both complexity and cost in consortium agreements. Moving to e-only allows for more cost efficient models. Mechanisms are needed for adjusting the total consortium e-only cost in ‘big deals’ as the publishers’ portfolios change.

Key Words: electronic periodicals • library consortia • licensing • research libraries • Sweden

IFLA Journal, Vol. 32, No. 3, 237-239 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0340035206070209


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