The Value of Purchasing E-book Collections from a Large Publisher

Abstract

The academic e-book market is in the midst of rapid change and development. While e-books are still a relatively small percentage of library collections, sales are growing and libraries appear ready to ramp up their e-book collections. There is now a range of purchasing models available to libraries. E-books can be acquired on a title-by-title basis, as a package collection with a large publisher or aggregator, or using a patron-driven model. This presentation investigates the value of purchasing e-book collections from a large publisher. Is there value in buying a collection, or is it more efficient to purchase e-books individually, on a title-by-title basis? To help answer this question, we will present the results of a usage-based analysis of Springer e-books. Since 2007, Miami University Libraries have purchased Springer e-book collections through an OhioLINK contract. Our analysis is based on COUNTER e-book usage reports and data from OhioLINK’s Electronic Book Center. We also augment the usage data with title-level information, such as subject and book type. This preliminary study focuses on the 2008 Springer collection and its use over a three-year period (2008-2010).