From: Sandy Thatcher <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 20:56:58 -0600

Would it be all that difficult to do a survey of faculty and ask them
which of the journals in a package they use regularly, or not at all?
Does any library now do this?

Sandy Thatcher


> From: Karin Wikoff <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 07:35:58 -0500
>
> For us, we'd only be likely to notice if something our users use
> regularly disappears.  20 journals no one uses could disappear, and we
> probably wouldn't notice.  But if the one journal some faculty member
> uses all the time disappeared, then there'd be a big problem.  It's a
> good question, and not one I'd given a lot of thought.  I'll be
> interested to read other folks' replies.
>
> Karin
>
> Karin Wikoff
> Electronic and Technical Services Librarian
> Ithaca College Library
> 953 Danby Rd
> Ithaca, NY 14850
>
> Phone: 1-607-274-1364
> Fax: 1-607-274-1539
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> On 12/16/2014 8:17 PM, LIBLICENSE wrote:
>
> From: Ann Shumelda Okerson <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 20:15:48 -0500
>
> Dear liblicense-l readers.  Your listowner/moderator (me) has a
> question for you.  I would very much welcome the views of anyone on
> this list, whether publisher or librarian or someone in the scholarly
> communications chain.  There's no right answer; in fact, I'm not sure
> there is even an answer, but I was in a group that started discussing
> this matter and we felt caught short.  And we felt we should have a
> reasoned opinion, when we did not.  Please read on.
>
> Most many big deal journal packages contain language [such as that
> below] re. modification to "portions of the Licensed Materials."  The
> contracts say that if any of the changes make the materials less
> useful, the institutions may seek to terminate this agreement for
> breach.  And, there will likely be language of this sort: "If any such
> withdrawal renders the Licensed Materials less useful to Licensee or
> its Authorised Users, Licensor shall reimburse XX for the withdrawal
> in an amount proportional to the total Fees owed."
>
> My question is this:  if my library has a "big [or medium] deal,"
> let's pretend it's 300 or 500 or 1000 or 2000 titles, what is a
> reasonable expectation for the numbers or percentage of content that
> will leave the package before the library or consortium would either
> seek reimbursement (more likely) or total termination (less likely)?
>
> Do libraries (or consortia) review the big-deal lists each year to look
> for changes?  Every 3 years? If there were a loss of previous titles
> in the amount of 5%, would it be a concern? How about 10%?
>
> Of if not a percentage "bright line," then what would cause a review
> of the list and a concerned conversation with the big deal publisher?
> Would it be the loss of a couple of absolutely key titles?  the loss
> of a particular smaller publisher's journals list?  a disciplinary
> impact? a dollar impact?  If "it depends," what does it depend on?
>
> Do libraries care very much about what's actually in these large
> packages, or are we too busy to pay attention to their changes? What
> would it take to get libraries' attention?
>
> Thank you, Ann Okerson
>
>
> *******
>
> "Notification of Modifications of Licensed Materials. From time to
> time, Licensor may add, change, or modify portions of the Licensed
> Materials, or migrate the Licensed Materials to other formats. When
> such changes, modifications, or migrations occur, the Licensor shall
> give notice of any such changes to Authorized Institutions as soon as
> is practicable, but in no event less than thirty (30) days in advance
> of modification. If any of the changes, modifications, or migrations
> renders the Licensed Materials substantially less useful to the
> Authorized Institutions or its Authorized Users, the Authorized
> Institutions may seek to terminate this Agreement for breach pursuant
> to the termination provisions of this Agreement.