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This statement is endorsed by: ANKOS, HEAL-Link, CBUC.

Why some libraries and consortia are paying too much for e-information

A statement of the Consortium of Academic Libraries of Catalonia on the price models applicable to libraries and consortia outside the English-speaking world

April 2001

The joint purchase of electronic information by consortia or groups of libraries is a new phenomenon that has spread rapidly in the last few years. The new systems of buying and selling electronic information have led to price models that are not yet stable but are undoubtedly based on the English-speaking market (particularly the USA). This has meant that some consortia and libraries from outside this market, and particularly the Spanish ones, are paying far more for the information that they buy, for the following reasons:

• The calculation of the size of a university on the basis of the number of FTE (Full Time Equivalent) students is often not applicable. Spanish universities do not tend to have data on their students in FTE, and this means that the calculations made by the suppliers are often too high. Probably no more than 2/3 of the students considered as such by a university are FTE.
• The price models based on campuses are also not applicable in many cases. Spanish universities were generally created in towns, so their expansion involved the creation of more than one campus for each university, whereas in the USA similar-sized universities are represented by a single campus.
• The traditional method of university teaching is often based on lectures and studying notes. This has a clear effect on the use of information in the libraries. If indicators (loans per student, requests for inter-library loans, consultation of databases...) are compared, it will be found that in all cases the use is one quarter that of the United Kingdom and one seventh that of the United States.
• In some countries, universities play an occupational role for young persons. Paradoxically, the countries of southern Europe have more university students (in relation to the number of persons of university age) than those of northern countries. However, this does not mean that there are a greater number of graduates. The nature of the universities means that the drop-out rate is high and that many students counted for the purposes of price-fixing are in fact future drop-outs.
• The vast majority of databases and electronic journals are based in English-speaking countries and published in English. Some countries, including Spain, have a very low knowledge of English (even among the university population). This is a demonstrable fact that reduces the potential consumption of electronic information.

All of these factors mean that some libraries and consortia do not receive an egalitarian treatment when they purchase electronic information, and therefore pay far more for the information than others.

The Consortium of Academic Libraries of Catalonia (CBUC) wishes to present these arguments for international consideration with the aim that library consortia and information suppliers should work together to establish fair price models in accordance with the real characteristics of universities outside the English-speaking world.

More information on the CBUC and its activities at http://www.cbuc.es/angles/