I can only speak on the topic from the public library perspective, but, all
of our expenditures, invoices, etc. are considered open to the public upon
request.  Once a bill is paid, it is public.  Once a contract is signed, it
is public.  Why would listing the service charge be any different for
colleges?

A side question, regarding periodical and serials check-ins:  our library
has been using an outdated dos software called EC2 for the past 6-8
years.  It is no longer available and is not being supported that I can
ascertain.  Anyone not using a major library automation system with the
serials module included?  What kind of check in systems are available for
us?  Any suggestions?

St. Charles City-Co Library
Betty Murr, Deputy Director
77 Boone Hills P.O. Box 529
St. Peters, MO 63376
Voice:  636-441-2300 ext. 1561
Fax:  636-441-3132
<bmurr01@MAIL.WIN.ORG>

At 02:46 PM 5/9/2003, Susan Sturgeon wrote:
>And I can't think of a better reason to do so.  As Librarians we try
>to enlighten, not keep things in the dark and out of the realm of
>comparison.  Susan Sturgeon
>
>
>On Fri, 9 May 2003 10:44:34 -0700 Carol Morse <MorsCa@WWC.EDU> wrote:
>
> > We were told that our service charge is confidential. I doubt if the
> > vendors would like you to share it.
> > Carol Morse
> >
> *********************************************************************
> > Carol Morse                                 Tel.  509) 527-2684
> > Serials Librarian                            Fax  509) 527-2001
> > Walla Walla College Library                 Email  morsca@wwc.edu
> > 104 S. College Ave.
> > College Place, WA  99324-1159
> >
> > Give us strength for the journey and wisdom to know the way.
> >
> ********************************************************************************
> >
> > >>> ashroye@EXCHANGE.CALSTATELA.EDU 05/08/03 03:27PM >>>
> > Dear Serialsts,
> >
> > My library recently eliminated a fair number of pricey journal titles in
> > favor of electronic access to those same titles, and we have seen our
> > service charge with our main subscription agent go up a bit as a result.
> > This, of course, is arguably legitimate given our new "mix of titles".
> > I'm just curious what other individual libraries are paying now in service
> > charges.  I'd especially like to compare notes with libraries of
> > roughly the same size (we subscribe to 2,300 current titles, and pay roughly
> > $550,000 per year for our journals).  My intention is not to do any "study"--as
> > doing so would require careful analysis of the "mix of titles" peculiar to
> > all of the insitutions compared.  For the latter reason,  I am not in favor
> > of posting specific service charge rates to the listserv.  I just hope to
> > correspond with a few other curious librarians on the topic.
> >
> > If you are among "the curious", please write directly to me at:
> > ashroye@calstatela.edu.   Thank you.
> >
> > --Andrew Shroyer
>
>------------------
>Susan Sturgeon
>Serials Librarian
>Salem State College Library
>352 Lafayette St.
>Salem, MA 01970
>(978) 542-6765
>susan.sturgeon@salemstate.edu