Isn't it amazing that *nobody* has commented on the new prices for the
RDA Toolkit?
Looking at http://www.rdatoolkit.org/content/2014pricechange, I had a
short moment of mirth when I noticed that the symbol for the British
pound is used for the Euro prices as well (let's wait and see whether it
will be corrected now). But then the laughter stuck in my throat when I
started to calculate.
We are told that the new pricing model will be cheaper for small
libraries. Indeed, there is a reduction for up to two concurrent users.
Compare the new prices with the old ones (given in brackets):
* only one person needing the toolkit: $ 180 ($ 195)
* 1 concurrent user: $ 180 ($ 325)
* 2 concurrent users: $ 342 ($ 380)
Note that there is a considerable benefit if you need one concurrent
user. However, If there is only one cataloger anyway, or if two
concurrent users are needed, the reduction is not a large one.
If, however, an institution needs more than two concurrent users, there
is a substantial rise in prices - and it gets higher and higher the more
users are needed. Again, compare the new prices with the old ones (given
in brackets):
* 3 concurrent users: $ 513 ($ 435)
* 4 concurrent users: $ 684 ($ 490)
* 5 concurrent users: $ 835 ($ 545)
* 6 concurrent users: $ 1002 ($ 545)
* 8 concurrent users: $ 1336 ($ 600)
* 10 concurrent users: $ 1620 ($ 825)
* 15 concurrent users: $ 2370 ($ 1075)
* 20 concurrent users: $ 3060 ($ 1225)
* 25 concurrent users: $ 3825 ($ 1450)
Try as I may, I can't see how the new pricing model "will more fairly
distribute the cost of subscription across all sizes of institutions".
What I see instead is a drastic rise in prices which will hit every
library which needs more than two concurrent users.
My guess is that many larger libraries won't be able or willing to buy
the number of concurrent users which would be needed according to the
number of catalogers.
Heidrun
On 13.11.2013 21:14, schrieb James Hennelly:
Effective January 1, 2014 RDA Toolkit will be extending a new pricing
model for site subscriptions. This change will make implementation of
RDA: Resource Description Access more accessible for small cataloging
departments and will more fairly distribute the cost of subscription
across all sizes of institutions. Learn more at
http://www.rdatoolkit.org/content/2014pricechange.
James Hennelly
Managing Editor
ALA Digital Reference
1-800-545-2433, ext 5051, or312-280-5051
jhenne...@ala.org <mailto:jhenne...@ala.org>
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Prof. Heidrun Wiesenmueller M.A.
Stuttgart Media University
Wolframstr. 32, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany
www.hdm-stuttgart.de/bi
