---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 15:01:45 -0500
From: David Goodman <dgoodman@PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: Re: databases prices (Mary Beth Burgoyne)

But in most cases these prices are in fact taken from a simple schedule,
and the vendor might as well publish the schedule. Among the better
reasons many vendors don't is the hope that they will be more likely to
sell an expensive product if they have the chance to demonstrate it.
(This could also be worded more cynically, as the desire not to scare
away prospective customers.)

> ---------- 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)

--
David Goodman
Research Librarian and
Biological Science Bibliographer
Princeton University Library
Princeton, NJ 08544-0001
phone: 609-258-7785
fax: 609-258-2627
e-mail: dgoodman@princeton.edu