Chapter 6: Annual Review

Abstract

In times of fiscal constraint it is very important to make sure all resources, whether established or recent acquisitions, are providing value for money. Value for money can be calculated in a number of ways, the most obvious being cost per download. Chapter 6 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 49, no. 2) “Techniques for Electronic Resource Management” covers other factors that should be taken into account, such as renewal date, currency exchange rate, usage transferred/added titles, access queries, coverage changes, license changes, cancellation policy, pricing model, and percent price increase. It recommends compiling a report for your staff, noting that it is not enough to compile a report of raw data. Subject teams should receive a background to the usage of the resource and check indicators in order to allow them to make quick and accurate decisions on what to do next.