Is anyone else experiencing problems convincing Elsevier to
participate in Ebsco’s new Rapid Renewal Tool for managing and renewing
subscription titles that are part of Big Deal contracts, or acquired through
consortia sponsored Big Deals?
We are very disspointed today to hear from the publisher that
they will not paricipate in the program, or perhaps that applies only to us, we’re
not sure.
Libraries use serial vendors for a multitude of reasons.
But perhaps the most important one in this unstable financial environment is to
facilitate the rapid renewal and payment of journal title subscriptions as
early in the fiscal year as possible. This is especially vital for large state
funded libraries who participate in multiple journal publisher Big Deals which
require title reconciliation before renewals can even be processed. The reality
of our financial environment is that most libraries are experiencing multiple
budget cuts within the same fiscal year, and the truth is that we are likely to
experience this same trend for the next few years. This means that many
libraries will have to face difficult decisions about any journals not yet
renewed or paid further into each fiscal year.
Perhaps Elsevier is unaware of this trend? Could it be
they do not realize the potential consequence of insisting on a renewal process
that takes longer and leaves their journal titles still unpaid more than
halfway through the library’s fiscal year? I guess I can’t
help but wonder, how is that a good business decision?
If there is anyone out there with similar observations and
questions, I would love to hear from you! Or if I’m missing
something and you can convince me of the wisdom of Elsevier’s decision,
please feel free to try!
Thanks,
Lila
(Angie) Ohler
Head
of Acquisitions, McKeldin Library
University
System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions
College
Park, MD 20742
301
405-9308 (phone)
301
314-1200 (fax)