Isn negotiating with publishers for access rights to e-journals a simple process?
The process of establishing and maintaining license agreements requires significant resources and expertise in negotiations for each library, as well as for Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). There are no standard license agreements. Each publisher has its own business pricing models, making each negotiation unique. The number and power of library consortia has grown with the advent of digital content as libraries have realized the need to work collectively to negotiate price and access rights. Currently, federal libraries negotiate on a department-by-department basis, resulting in limited negotiation power with publisher monopolies. The Federal Science eLibrary will enable collective negotiations for government-wide licenses for desktop access to e-journals, capitalizing on the power and size of the entire federal government to negotiate with publishers for the best possible price.
