PDA in theory and practice Some comments on Rick Anderson The document discusses the pros and cons of patron-driven acquisitions (PDA) based on comments by Rick Anderson. It summarizes that while the cost of traditional librarian selection is high, PDA is not necessarily cheaper and can deplete budgets quickly. Additionally, current PDA practices often involve digital rights management (DRM) that hampers usability, and focusing only on current PDA models ignores tensions in academic publishing. PDA may be suitable for researching patrons' needs, but low circulation alone is not a strong argument for its use.

2. September 22, 2011 Summary in advance (low) circulation is not a strong argument for PDA (high) selection cost/time ís PDA can be suitable for (a significant) part of our patrons’ book needs PDA is not likely to be cheaper the DRM entailed by current PDA practice is in the way of optimal use & usability putting your stakes on PDA-with-DRM ignores the growing tensions in academic book publishing.

3. September 22, 2011 Personal note I limit myself to books Premiss: “the (current) collection is a bad guess at patron needs” circulation is low (waste of money) circulation is falling (‘down dramatically’) U of Groningen circulation is not low 10% – 15% not checked out after 10 years (+do not forget on-site use) 5 -10 average # of loans of 10 year old books circulation is not falling in total moderately falling per student (growth of the university).

4. September 22, 2011 Book selection by librarians, I agree, ís costly, but mainly in terms of librarian time spent and therefore relatively inefficient, but not for all (types of) books Types of academic books (≈ submarkets, business models) reference works textbooks general intellectual record (<> public libraries) books for student/faculty research PDA: suitable for the latter (big) category low ratio of budget : book supply selection is guesswork indeed

5. September 22, 2011 Expectation (wish): PDA will better reflect patron needs -> OK be cheaper(in times of decreasing book budgets) Experience budgets depleted in months/weeks (-> LIS literature) U of Groningen ‘simulation’ ebrary H&PS: 6,600 e-books with imprint 2006- (plus 7,000 older books) corresponding book budget ± € 35,000 books opened after 12 months: 1,321 autopurchase at 20 ‘pageviews’ 586 books for € 34,494 after 12 months autopurchase at 10 ‘pageviews’ 596 books for € 34,272 after 9 months 808 books for € 46,959 after 12 months

6. September 22, 2011 PDA == e-books with DRM(digital rights management) + allows title-by-title purchase + avoids e-book packages of (commercial) publishers - usability crippled by design - offline reading practically impossible - long-term availability/archivability uncertain - do patrons see DRM e-books as equivalent to print? Growing tensions in academic book publishing potential of e-publishing underused academics writing for academics (cf. serials crisis) balance between stakeholder interests needed moving wall open access for ‘no longer current’ books PDA without DRM (Elsevier’s EBS).

7. September 22, 2011 Summary (low) circulation is not a strong argument for PDA (high) selection cost/time ís PDA can be suitable for (a significant) part of our patrons’ book needs PDA is not likely to be cheaper the DRM entailed by current PDA practice is in the way of optimal use & usability putting your stakes on PDA-with-DRM ignores the growing tensions in academic book publishing.

8. mm-dd-yy | 8 Thank you p.j.b.m.van.laarhoven@rug.nl