---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 1996 16:48:10 -0600
From: "Sandra M. Barstow" <SBarstow@UWYO.EDU>
Subject: UMI Price Increases

In comparing our 1996 UMI renewal invoice to our 1995 invoice, we found
that some of our titles had increased by astronomical percentages.  For
example, the JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT cost $25.50 last year, but
$100.00 this year.  By calling our customer service representative, we
learned that apparently a form letter was sent with the renewal invoices
to customers, explaining that the prices of low-sales-volume journals
were being increased to a level that would recover their costs.  (We
didn't see this letter.)  One would think that the high-sales-volume
journals would have had their prices decreased, since they were no longer
subsidizing the esoteric publications, but none of our microform journals
were cheaper this year than last.

We were assured by the customer service person that these were one-time
increases (of this magnitude).  However, if libraries decide to cancel
these journals because we can no longer afford them, I would assume that
the remaining subscribers would see further large price increases.  Has
anybody out there in SERIALST-land been thinking about how to respond to
this problem?

Sandy Barstow
Head of Acquisitions
University of Wyoming Libraries
sbarstow@uwyo.edu