Academic Libraries Shortchanged on Electronic Content

From Chronicle 12/5/07:

More than a third of college librarians questioned this fall said database vendors failed to deliver the amount of published material they said they would, and did not compensate libraries for the shortfall. The survey of libraries' database-licensing practices for this academic year was conducted by Primary Research Group Inc. The survey also questioned librarians in corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations. Most respondents were in the United States, and the rest were in Britain, Australia, and Canada.

Other findings from the survey regarding college libraries:
° They have an average of 67 database licenses.
° They obtain about half their electronic content through consortium contracts.
° About 37 percent are actively looking for consortium partners.
° They spent an average of $16,200 last year on consortium dues.
° About 29 percent have digital repositories. Ten percent are within a year of having one, and 16 percent said they would probably have one within two years.


Rong