Tag: acquisitions-librarian

Buying and Managing E-Books for Acquisitions Librarians. Part 4 – Statistics & Promotion

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In our previous post, we looked at the “invisible” life of an e-book once the invoice is paid. We explored the high-stakes world of metadata, the frustrations of DRM, and the ethical imperative of accessibility. We established that buying the book is only half the battle; the other half is ensuring it actually works for the human at the other end of the screen.

Here is a breakdown of the series so far:

But how do we know if it’s working? And once we have a collection that functions, how do we make sure people actually use it? Welcome to the latest part of my series, Buying and Managing E-Books for Acquisitions Librarians Part 4 – Statistics & Promotion.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

Statistics: The Signal, the Noise, and the Weapon

In the digital library, statistics are ubiquitous. We are currently awash in an exhausting volume of data, from COUNTER 5.1 reports to granular platform analytics, that promise to underpin our collection strategies. When harnessed correctly, this data is the engine of a truly dynamic service, it allows for Just-In-Time (JIT) acquisition and a responsive, data-driven strategy that mirrors the actual needs of our researchers and students in real-time.

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Buying and Managing E-Books for Acquisitions Librarians. Part 3 – Managing E-Books

Anth SinnottLeave a comment

Welcome to the third post in my series, Buying and Managing E-Books for Acquisitions Librarians. In our previous post, we navigated the high-level landscape of e-book procurement—exploring how Evidence-Based Acquisition (EBA), DDA, and big-brand packages allow us to scale our collections. We looked at the “how” and the “where” of getting content into our digital ecosystem.

Here is a breakdown of the series so far:

As any seasoned librarian knows, the work doesn’t end when the invoice is cleared and the license is signed. In many ways, that is where the real challenge begins. Managing an e-book collection is a continuous lifecycle of maintenance, troubleshooting, and advocacy. It’s about ensuring that the thousands of pounds we spend actually translate into a seamless, accessible experience for our students.

Welcome to Part 3 – Managing E-Books

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Buying and Managing E-Books for Acquisitions Librarians. Part 2 – Schemes and Packages.

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Welcome to the second post in my series, Buying and Managing E-Books for Acquisitions Librarians. Over the coming weeks, I will be pulling back the curtain on the digital supply chain to explore methods of purchase, supplier relationships, and what happens next. Today we are looking at Schemes and Packages

Here is a breakdown of the series so far:

In our previous post, we looked at the foundational elements of e-book procurement: the “who” (suppliers) and the “how” (licences). We explored the delicate balance of choosing between a 3-user licence and a credit model, and the importance of having a robust local selection policy.

However, title-by-title purchasing is only one piece of the puzzle. To build a scalable, responsive collection, we have to look beyond individual transactions. Suppliers frequently sell using models that move away from the one book, one price logic. Welcome to Part 2 – Schemes and Packages.

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Buying and Managing E-Books for Acquisitions Librarians. Part 1 – Purchasing E-Books.

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In the ever-evolving landscape of academic library collections, the shift toward digital has often been framed as a straightforward evolution, a simple migration from shelf to screen. Yet, as any Acquisitions Librarian can tell you, the reality of building a digital collection is a complex dance of licensing, logistics, and strategic negotiation. While our patrons see the convenience of a click, we navigate a labyrinth of platforms, permissions, and pricing models behind the scenes.

Welcome to the first post in my new series, Buying and Managing E-Books for Acquisitions Librarians. Over the coming weeks, I will be pulling back the curtain on the digital supply chain to explore methods of purchase, supplier relationships, and what happens next

My plan is to cover the following elements:

Image by Michael Haderer from Pixabay

Purchasing E-Books

1 – Supplier Type: Aggregators

Aggregators—such as ProQuest (Ebook Central), EBSCO, and VLeBooks—act as the massive department stores of the library world. They host content from thousands of different publishers on a single, unified platform, providing a centralized hub for discovery and management.

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5 Ways A Well-Designed Controlled Digital Lending Scheme (CDL) Can Improve Your Academic Library

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If you’ve spent any time in a university library lately, you’ll know we’re living in a bit of a divided era. On one hand, we’ve got these magnificent, sometimes centuries old, print collections that user communities love and value (and honestly, who can blame them? There’s nothing like the smell of an old book). On the other, we’re battling a digital marketplace that feels increasingly like a wild west of restrictive licenses, rising costs, and content that can vanish at the whim of a platform update.

Enter Controlled Digital Lending (CDL)

While the legal headlines have been dominated by the high drama Hachette v. Internet Archive case in the US, a situation that has certainly set the cat among the pigeons, the UK conversation is much more grounded. We aren’t looking to create a “digital library of Alexandria” overnight, we’re looking for sensible ways to manage the resources we already pay for. As has been repeatedly highlighted in the SCONUL landscape review (and followup work) by the always excellent Jane Secker and Chris Morrison, CDL isn’t a radical hack, it’s a strategic way to bridge the gap between our physical past and our digital future.

Here are five ways a well-constructed CDL scheme can transform the academic library landscape in the UK.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

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5 things for University Librarians to think about when exiting a Read and Public agreement

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The landscape of UK higher education has recently shifted, with news that terms have been agreed with five major academic publishers via Jisc negotiations. While some might be tempted to view this as a “done deal,” another perspective would describe it as a pragmatic reflection from the sector that further negotiation on terms is simply no longer possible.

The harsh reality is that, given the severe financial challenges facing the sector, many of these agreements will remain fundamentally unaffordable for many institutions. This isn’t just a budgetary squeeze, it is a cliff edge. Difficult decisions regarding the deployment of available funds will need to be made with extreme speed, likely resulting in several institutions withdrawing from at least one major deal. At the University of York, our experience of withdrawing from seven Read and Publish (R&P) agreements as of the beginning of 2025 has shown that there is currently no roadmap or sufficient systemic help for exiting these Big Deals.

To that end, here are 5 key considerations to help navigate the complexities of an R&P exit. These are not exhaustive, nor are they universal, this is simply one University Acquisitions Librarian’s interpretation of a complex and stressful situation, with some practical tips in the hopes that others in a similar situation may find it helpful.

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5 Reasons OERs Could Unlock Opportunities for UK Academic Libraries

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Adopt – Adapt – Create

Open Educational Resources (OERs) are freely accessible, openly licensed instructional materials, from full courses and textbooks to videos and images. They can be used, adapted, and shared by anyone. These resources embody the principles of openness and reuse, moving beyond the often restrictive models of traditional publishing.

While OER adoption is widespread in parts of North America and other regions, its integration into core teaching practice across the UK higher education landscape is still nascent. This early stage means that most institutions have significant untapped potential to leverage OER. For UK academic libraries, the traditional custodians of scholarly content, this presents a compelling opportunity to be at the forefront of an innovative movement.

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Pragmatic Principles

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It’s been a tough old year. Ditching out of 7 R&P deals at once naturally brings with it a whole host of stressful situations to navigate. Through all of this, an absolutely excellent piece of work (that I am very proud we achieved) underpinned a huge amount of our strategic thinking and decision making.

Prior to any budget cuts, the decision had already been made that we in the Library should work with external colleagues to co-create a set of Library Collections Principles

When we set out on this journey, the goal was to create these principles in a way that contained a pragmatic understanding of the realities of collection acquisition, whilst also aligning closely with our University values, as well as speaking to the needs of our wider community.

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Ranking E-Book Licenses: A Tier List for Preference-Based Decisions

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We all know that e-book licenses can be intentionally complex and confusing. The difficulty often lies in choosing between licenses that seem similar on the surface. For that reason, understanding the nuances of different licensing models is key to making better purchasing decisions. This ranking system provides a clear hierarchy for the most common types of e-book licenses, helping you to make preference-based decisions.

Note: This post is a list based purely on the elements of the license itself. In reality, other factors like price and the presence of robust and configurable auto-upgrade systems often play a huge role in the final decision.

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