Hi, we are a large state institution. We use subscription agents for very large payments to consortia whenever we can. First, there are issues with either the consortium or the provider not being on the New York State contract. That leads to a lot of extra paperwork on our end as well as by the payee. Lamentably this paperwork (forms and justifications) has to be completed EVERY fiscal year. The payment itself takes about a month or more longer. With our agent, the provider is paid right away and we receive an EDI invoice which saves library finance staff a lot of time. The agent can also assist with troubleshooting problems and usually alerts the library to changes (titles moving in and out) in the package.

Service charges do add up; but so do staff costs—especially staff time. Our technical services operation has less than 25% of the staff as when I started back in the dark ages of print only and a card catalog!

However, if the finance operation is outside the library, then the library wouldn’t benefit directly from process efficacies.

Hope this information is useful to your review.

Susan

Susan Davis

Interim Head of Acquisitions

University at Buffalo (SUNY)

134 Lockwood Library

Buffalo, NY 14260-2210

716-645-2784

716-645-5955 fax

unlsdb@buffalo.edu

http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/staff/index.asp?ID=124

From: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum <SERIALST@LISTSERV.NASIG.ORG> On Behalf Of Pope, Scott
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2018 3:53 PM
To: SERIALST@LISTSERV.NASIG.ORG
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Subscription agent for consortia-based/ standard e-journal packages?

Emily,

We’ve done it both ways. Mainly we look at our overall discount across the bundle of products, subscriptions, and packages rather than one in particular.

Definitely costs add up.

Scott

Scott Pope

Continuing Resources Librarian | Alkek Library | Texas State University

601 University Dr. | San Marcos, TX 78666

pope@txstate.edu

phone 512.245.8737

From: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum <SERIALST@LISTSERV.NASIG.ORG> On Behalf Of Emily Paladino
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2018 2:20 PM
To: SERIALST@LISTSERV.NASIG.ORG
Subject: [SERIALST] Subscription agent for consortia-based/ standard e-journal packages?

Hello everyone,

We're in the midst of our fall serial renewal and cancellation processes and, as always, we're examining various costs in trying to determine the best use of our journal budget funds. Last year we transitioned some of our consortia-based, fairly standard e-journal packages to be billed through our subscription agent vs. direct via various consortia memberships. I'm wondering how many other libraries do this, and if they see any particular advantages to doing this or particular savings with not doing this?

The subscription agent surcharges do seem to add up. And It seems like the custom-built journal packages/ journal order lists with the major publishers would present more efficiency & savings being billed through a subscription agent vs. packages like "Sage Premier 2019," etc.

I'm just looking for a sense of best practices with the above, especially as it pertains to small to medium-sized academic libraries. I would welcome any responses.

Thank you for your time,

~Emily

Emily Paladino, M.L.S.
Electronic Resources Librarian/Library Web Services
Associate Professor of Learning Resources
Robert Morris University Library
6001 University Boulevard
Moon Township, PA 15108
paladino@rmu.edu
(412) 397-6880

Library Liaison for Engineering, English, Education, MBA Program, Center for Global Engagement

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