E-pricing models: Are publishers and librarians on the same page?

Abstract

Publishers and librarians need to work together to successfully meet the challenges of selling and purchasing content in a more complex world. Tightening budgets will increasingly force librarians to become ever more selective and adept at calculating the return on investment of their collection. Publishers will need to innovate with their business models and use technology and data analysis to match the price charged for content to the needs of an individual institution. The future is likely to place increased control in the hands of the library community, through initiatives like patron-driven acquisition (PDA). By more precisely defining their needs, libraries will be better able to buy the content they most need for a price that fairly reflects its value to them. With demand then driving supply, publishers will be incentivized to produce relevant high-quality content, creating a virtuous circle with benefits for both content providers and consumers.