Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 12:32:26 -0500 (EST)
From: Ellen Finnie Duranceau <efinnie@MIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: Personal/Institutional Prices (3 messages)
Comments: To: "SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum"
 <SERIALST@UVMVM.UVM.EDU>
Comments: cc: jfisher@MIT.EDU

A thought on the question of the differential
between personal and institutional subscription prices
.......I've heard Janet Fisher of MIT Press
speak very articulately about the setting of individual and institutional
prices for the MIT Press journals. (This was at the ACRL New England
Serials Interest Group meeting in May 1996). According to my notes,
Janet said that the institutional price for an MIT Press journal
is usually three times that of the individual price.
(I HOPE I have this right! Corrections, Janet?)  She noted that the individual
subscriber market is critical for the Press (about 50% of subscriber base),
but is also shrinking and VERY price sensitive.  I will
resist the attempt to paraphrase further, but I know Janet has spoken
widely at conferences and folks who are interested may find her talks
summarized in the serials literature.

Regarding Mike Scully's comments below, it was my understanding that
it was illegal to offer an individual's donated subscription as a library
copy AT ALL, even aside from the question of offering it on ILL.

Ellen Duranceau
Assoc. Head, Serials & Acquisitions Services
 & Assistant Acquisitions Librarian for Digital Resources
MIT Libraries

|> 3)_____
|>
|> Date: Wed, 05 Mar 1997 14:27:00 -0800
|> From: Mike Scully <mscully@SWEDISH.ORG>
|> Subject: Re: Personal/Institutional Prices (Eleanor Cook)
|>
Recently, we were disappointed to learn that "donated" journals -- this
|> would include ones received on an individual subscription, then donated to
|> the library -- are unacceptable for providing photocopies, particularly for
|> interlibrary loan.  It is considered a violation of copyright law.  (For
|> those that don't know, medical/health sciences libraries depend rather
|> heavily on ILL.)
|>
|> Reference Library       | 206/386-2484 (phone)    | Mike Scully
|> Swedish Medical Center  | 206/386-3570 (fax)      | mscully@swedish.org
|> 747 Broadway            | "All opinions expressed | Library Technician/
|> Seattle WA  98122-4307  | are my own."            | WMLA QuickDOC rep.