We had to unbundle some of our packages and tried to subscribe only core journals (after checking our usage statistics) with supplemental subscription of tokens for articles. (It is also called Patron Driven Acquisitions of e-articles).

We did that with Wiley-Blackwell, and we will try to use this subscription model with other publishers next year.

Tian Zhang

Head of Serials Department
St. John's University Library
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
Tel. 718 990-5082
Fax. 718 990-5938
Email: zhangt@stjohns.edu

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Joanna C. Kennedy
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 11:06 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Increased costs for Sage ejournal collection

We had to cancel Sage Premier, due to an astounding price increase. We just get one vital title individually now.

Joanna

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Mark Ferguson
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 10:47 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Increased costs for Sage ejournal collection

Hello Serials listers:

Has anyone else experienced the extradinary cost increase for the Sage Premier package that we have?  Last year we were charged $5827 and this year the price is jumping to $7864, more than $2000 and more than a third of the original cost.  All this for an additional 44 titles which we did not ask for and do not really need.

Part of the increase, according to Sage, is do to a change in the pricing model from what they have identified as holdings to Carnegie tier.  That alone accounts for more than $900 of the increase.

Sage does provide us access to a number of key journals, but I don't know if we can afford these kinds of increases (especially since we experienced a huge jump in cost last year) and I am looking for any alternatives out there.  Have other folks experienced these same kinds of increases?  If so have you come up with any solutions?

I would appreciate any suggestions other serials folks may have.

Mark