Content area
Full Text
Keywords
Public libraries, Purchasing, Procurement, Electronic books, Electronic journals
Abstract
This paper embodies research on the purchasing of electronic resources by public libraries. It sought to identify what works well and what is problematic with respect to the management of commercial products. Views were also sought on future development, and how procurement could best be managed. The main concerns identified were the lack of a national dimension and strategy, and of expertise in individual authorities and consortia, particularly with licences. Purchasers were felt to be reactive, not taking control of the procurement by specifying requirements. E-resources were felt to be very expensive; there was not necessarily any price advantage as a result of consortial negotiations. It was also felt that hard-copy and e-resource procurement and strategy should not be separated. Licence terms and pricing models were felt to be confusing, and the interfaces provided inappropriate.
Introduction
This paper embodies the results of research, undertaken for Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries in spring 2002, on the purchasing of electronic resources by public libraries in England. The full report on the issues arising from the research is available on the Resource Web site (www.resource.gov.uk/information/research/ respubs2002.asp).
The brief from Resource was to undertake structured interviews with library authorities and consortia in England with a view to identifying:
what works well;
what are the various management models that have been adopted;
what is problematic with respect to the management of commercial products;
what issues and concerns staff have; and
what are their views on future development and how such procurement could best be managed.
Methodology
The research targeted six consortia held to be representative of procurement activity in the public library sector: Central Buying Consortium (CBC), Co-East, Consortium for United Stock Purchase (CUSP), Foursite, LASH (Libraries Access Sunderland scHeme), Libraries in Partnership West Midlands (LIP WM). Five individual library authorities were also surveyed: Blackburn, Bristol, Croydon, Knowsley and Norfolk.
Structured interviews were undertaken in March 2002 (the questions are given as Appendix 1). The interviews sought to determine how consortia are currently procuring hard-copy and electronic resources. First, questions sought to determine how consortia currently operate in terms of membership, decision making and personnel. Information was also elicited on activity - the...