---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 09:56:11 -0700
From: Mary Beth Burgoyne <Mary_Beth_Burgoyne@CI.MESA.AZ.US>
Subject: Re: databases prices (Fatme Charafeddine)

In my experience evaluating and subscribing to electronic
resources/databases, vendors rarely indicate price in catalogs or on
fliers. My understanding is libraries are so diverse in their needs and
environments, it is difficult for a vendor to quote a fair price for
everyone to a product. Libraries vary in number of sites
(branches/buildings), number of users (population served, # of library card
holders), number of simultaneous users (one, 2-5, unlimited), type of
users, (general public, students, faculty), number of computers and type of
access (Web modem, remote access-RPA, CD-ROM, CD-WAN, CD-LAN, Telnet).

When I contact a vendor, I usually ask the content related questions, then
if I am still interested in the product, I give them our specifications so
I can get a price quote. Our specifications generally run, "public library
with three locations, one main library, two branches, 135,000 library card
holders, interested in Web access including RPA with 3 simultaneous users
(or unlimited # of users).

Another drawback to having to contact the vendor for prices, is you now are
on their telemarketing, mass mailing, sales call lists. This is annoying if
it is a product in which you no longer are interested or it is out of
budget.  I find it frustrating, although, unlisted subscription prices are
a fact of life for electronic resources. I would rather pay a fair price
based upon our specifications, rather than a vendor's set price that may
have been calculated based upon an academic library's setting or a massive
public library system such as Los Angeles or New York.

Mary Beth Burgoyne
Electronic Resources Development Coordinator
Mesa (AZ) Public Library
64 E. 1st Street
Mesa AZ 85201
480-644-3891

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 12:59:10 -0800
From: fatmeh <fc01@AUB.EDU.LB>
Subject: databases prices

I have a hard time finding the prices od databases. They are usually listed
in their producer catalogs with no prices. Is there a list or directory
of databases and  their prices from different providers.
Many thanks for any help
Fatme
Fatme Charafeddine
Serials Librarian/Jafet Library
American University of Beirut
PO Box 11-0236
Beirut Lebanon

Fax 961 1 744 703
Tel. 961 1 350 000 (2608)