A CEAL Libraries Self Study: Levels of e-Resource Affordability

Abstract

This study compares five years of e-resource expenditures of Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL) 2007-2011 in relation to their collection budgets. The hypothesis is CEAL libraries should pay for electronic resources in proportion to their funding resources.

The purposes of this study are to 1). Reveal CEAL libraries purchasing power; 2). Aid in E-resource negotiations; 3). Provide data for decision making 4). Promote CEAL purchase tiers classification. The goal is to promote a CEAL tiered classification based on each library's purchasing power when negotiating with vendors for electronic resources. Data used in analysis were a) CEAL 5-yr Fiscal Support (2007-11) supported by 2- yr Fiscal Support (2010-11); b) CEAL CJK database holdings and expenditures; c) Carnegie Classification & CEAL fiscal support; d) CEAL Libraries levels of purchase power.

Conclusions • CEAL libraries need to develop e-resource collection development strategies, • Publishers must move away from “business as usual” and “big deals,” • Vendors need to be flexible in pricing structures, • Libraries need to level the playing field by working out an “equally affordable” plan for all members. • No Classification can be perfectly neutral or objective.

CEAL stats data was from CEAL Statistics Database http://lib.ku.edu/ceal/php