Seriously? A Series of Tips on Setting Up a Research Library (Part 6)

“Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.” -- Groucho Marx (American Comedian, Actor and Singer, 1890-1977)

EVERYTHING’S NEGOTIABLE
Step four of this series is to negotiate contracts with database vendors. We are now at Step four. It is, possibly, the most difficult.

Price might seem to be the main negotiation point.  Not so, according to Ingrid Mattson and Linda-Jean Schneider.
In Negotiating And Complying With Electronic Database License Agreements, they argue that “the actual “cost’’ in terms of dollars can be less important than obtaining terms and conditions with which you can comply.” Here is an excerpt from their article.

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Negotiating And Complying With Electronic Database License Agreements
Ingrid Mattson and Linda-Jean Schneider
But gaining an awareness of licensing concepts and securing access to scores of resources for the cheapest price possible are not necessarily the only end goals. Instead, getting “favorable” license terms (i.e., a great deal) is really only meaningful if your institution is able to comply with the license terms. Evaluating whether you can comply with license terms requires that you understand your patrons’ needs and expectations when using online databases.
Amazingly, the actual “cost’’ in terms of dollars can be less important than obtaining terms and conditions with which you can comply.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/spectrum/Archives/vol-17/No-4/license-agreements.pdf
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Read this article before entering into contract negotiation.  I also recommend two other articles …

Negotiating and Analyzing Electronic License Agreements*
Duncan E. Alford
Law and Politics Librarian, Princeton University Library, Princeton University, Princeton, New
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/llj/LLJ-Archives/Vol-94/pub_llj_v94n04/2002-38.pdf

Principles for Licensing Electronic Resources
Revised by the Licensing Principles for Electronic Resources Special Committee
Approved by the AALL Executive Board, November 2004
Free Full Text Source: http://www.aallnet.org/Archived/Advocacy/AALL-Recommended-Guidelines/licensing-electronic-resources-052013.html

Visit www.jeansteinhardtconsulting.com for more useful tips.