ResourceBlog Article: Libraries and Demand-Driven Acquisitions: Conference Session at AAUP (Association of American University Presses)

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Tuesday, 22nd June 2010

Libraries and Demand-Driven Acquisitions: Conference Session at AAUP (Association of American University Presses)

Here are three paragraphs from an article about a sessions at the AAUP Annual Conference. The entire article is worth a read.

From an Article by Sarah Gold about a session titled, "Rethinking Library Acquisition: Demand-Driven Purchasing for Scholarly Books"

Publishers also experienced shock and awe at a session on demand-driven library acquisitions. [Our emphasis] Michael Levine-Clark,collections librarian at the University of Denver, reported that 47% of books acquired from 2000 to 2009 were never checked out, a phenomenon echoed by Stephen Bosch, in charge of budgets and procurement at the University of Arizona library, where over the past decade $19 million has been spent on books that were never used. Facing both budget and space pressures (Denver was required to give up 20,000 square feet of shelf space to student use), both libraries have joined a usage-based purchase program with YBP Library Services in which an e-book can now be rented when requested by a library user; and after a certain number of requests demonstrate the book’s likely continued use, the e-book is then acquired at the hardcover list price.

In addition to the diminishing number of libraries that consider themselves “libraries of record,” YBP’s Kim Anderson drew gasps from attendees when he stated that the University of Kansas now drops a new title from its catalog if it isn’t requested within the first six months. “What?” an audience member exclaimed, “when journal reviews don’t appear for three years?”

In response, Matt Nauman, head of publisher relations at Blackwell, noted that “the mission of libraries is changing from collection building to providing access.” There will still be “a small core of must-have titles,” that will be ordered automatically, he said, but for publishers, Nauman went on, this means smaller and less predictable frontlist sales, and emphasizes the need to accommodate the growing demand for more cost-effective e-books.

Source: Publisher's Weekly
Hat Tips: Peter B. and @jafurtado

Libraries dealing with ebooks have to reconcile their mission of providing access with their limited and declining budgets. One model for doing this is known as "Patron-Driven" (PDA) or "Demand-Driven" (DDA) Acquisition. In this model, the library offers access to a huge menu of content, but only pays for material actually used by patrons. Since 50% of print material acquired by academic libraries never gets used, this results in a 50% cost savings (or 100% increase in bang for the buck, assuming you have bucks).

See Also: A Few Other Sessions at the Conference that Might be Of Interest. We Are On the Lookout for Reports, Slides and Other Materials from These Sessions

+ The Future of the Past: Libraries in the Digital Future

+ Academic Library Buying Patterns: Shifting Budgets and More eResources

+ Partnering for Sustainability: Selling E-books to Libraries

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