Cost impact in managing the transition to open access model

Abstract

Open access to scholarly resources is a growing dimension in the universe of scholarly communication. The impact of open access on the traditional model of acquisition and access is just beginning to surface. In managing the transitioning toward open access, libraries will benefit from the model of use analytics developed by the Collection Development team at HKU to rationalize the value of library investment and to refine collection priorities for the future development of the collections and budget. This paper will discuss the collection building strategies of my university to tackle the major challenges in managing the transition to open access model. In particular, I will focus on the analytics employed to evaluate the use and cost impact of e-journal big deals within an open access environment. The shift to open access of scholarly contents, which is a critical component in the research process, must be prudently managed in keeping down the total costs of ownership. The cost impact of open access must be factored into the big picture in developing new pricing models for greater optimization of resources and budget.