It's not the same as the online renewal for individual print and onlines subscriptions,  but was designed to help in renewing publisher packages purchased through library consortia.   It helps to reconcile annual title lists for renewal of electronic packages and also managing any associated print subscriptions.  I like using it because our consortia deals don't involve tracking print so we have to order print separately if we want it.  I can manage both at the same time with Rapid Renewal.   Everyone's needs will be different, but I liked the way it worked for me last year with Springer & Sage.   Someone from EBSC0 could probably explain it better!

Shirley Rais, MLS  -  Chair, Serials & Electronic Resources Dept.
Library Liaison to the School of Public Health
LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY | University Libraries

11072 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, California 92350
office (909) 558-4583 *  fax (909) 558-4919 *   srais@llu.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Barbara Pope
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 8:29 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Use of Ebsco's Rapid Renewal for Elsevier titles?

What is Rapid Renewal exactly? I use online renewal for our print and
online journals that we order through Ebsco. Is that the same thing?

Barbara Pope
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg KS 66762
bpope@pittstate.edu

Rais, Shirley (LLU) wrote:
>
> Last year I used Rapid Renewal for my consortial package renewals for
> Sage & Springer. For this year I wanted to expand it and was told that
> Elsevier and Wiley-Blackwell agreed to participate but only for a
> limited number of customers ( I guess they want to try it out). I've
> never received a flat out, "No, we won't participate." I'm told
> everyone I deal with on my e-packages that I want to use Rapid
> Renewal: my Elsevier & Wiley-Blackwell reps, the consortia through
> which I order most of our packages, and my e-package renewal
> specialist at EBSCO. I thought that if Elsevier & W-B were looking for
> participants, I wanted to make sure my name got out there!
>
> Shirley Rais, MLS -/ Chair, Serials & Electronic Resources Dept./
>
> Library Liaison to the School of Public Health
> LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY | University Libraries
>
> 11072 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, California 92350
> /office/ (909) 558-4583 *·* /fax (/909) 558-4919 *·* srais@llu.edu
> <mailto:aswarm@llu.edu>
>
> *From:* SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
> [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] *On Behalf Of *Lila Ohler
> *Sent:* Monday, October 05, 2009 1:42 PM
> *To:* SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
> *Subject:* [SERIALST] Use of Ebsco's Rapid Renewal for Elsevier titles?
>
> Is anyone else experiencing problems convincing Elsevier to
> participate in Ebsco's new Rapid Renewal Tool for managing and
> renewing subscription titles that are part of Big Deal contracts, or
> acquired through consortia sponsored Big Deals?
>
> We are very disspointed today to hear from the publisher that they
> will not paricipate in the program, or perhaps that applies only to
> us, we're not sure.
>
> Libraries use serial vendors for a multitude of reasons. But perhaps
> the most important one in this unstable financial environment is to
> facilitate the rapid renewal and payment of journal title
> subscriptions as early in the fiscal year as possible. This is
> especially vital for large state funded libraries who participate in
> multiple journal publisher Big Deals which require title
> reconciliation before renewals can even be processed. The reality of
> our financial environment is that most libraries are experiencing
> multiple budget cuts within the same fiscal year, and the truth is
> that we are likely to experience this same trend for the next few
> years. This means that many libraries will have to face difficult
> decisions about any journals not yet renewed or paid further into each
> fiscal year.
>
> Perhaps Elsevier is unaware of this trend? Could it be they do not
> realize the potential consequence of insisting on a renewal process
> that takes longer and leaves their journal titles still unpaid more
> than halfway through the library's fiscal year? I guess I can't help
> but wonder, how is that a good business decision?
>
> If there is anyone out there with similar observations and questions,
> I would love to hear from you! Or if I'm missing something and you can
> convince me of the wisdom of Elsevier's decision, please feel free to try!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lila (Angie) Ohler
>
> Head of Acquisitions, McKeldin Library
>
> University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions
>
> College Park, MD 20742
>
> 301 405-9308 (phone)
>
> 301 314-1200 (fax)
>
> lohler@umd.edu <mailto:lohler@umd.edu>
>