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.

1. September 22, 2011Library / Peter van LaarhovenPDA in theory and practice Some commentson Rick Anderson

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

3. September 22, 2011Personal noteI limit myself to booksPremiss: “the (current) collection is a bad guess at patron needs”circulation is low (waste of money)circulation is falling (‘down dramatically’)U of Groningencirculation is not low10% – 15% not checked out after 10 years (+do not forget on-site use)5 -10 average # of loans of 10 year old bookscirculation is not falling in totalmoderately falling per student (growth of the university).

4. September 22, 2011Book selection by librarians, I agree,ís costly, but mainly in terms of librarian time spentand therefore relatively inefficient,but not for all (types of) booksTypes of academic books (≈ submarkets, business models)reference workstextbooksgeneral intellectual record (<> public libraries)books for student/faculty researchPDA: suitable for the latter (big) categorylow ratio of budget : book supplyselection is guesswork indeed

5. September 22, 2011Expectation (wish): PDA willbetter reflect patron needs -> OKbe cheaper(in times of decreasing book budgets)Experiencebudgets 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 ± € 35,000books opened after 12 months: 1,321autopurchase at 20 ‘pageviews’586 books for € 34,494 after 12 monthsautopurchase at 10 ‘pageviews’596 books for € 34,272 after 9 months808 books for € 46,959 after 12 months

6. September 22, 2011PDA == 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 publishingpotential of e-publishing underusedacademics writing for academics (cf. serials crisis)balance between stakeholder interests neededmoving wall open access for ‘no longer current’ booksPDA without DRM (Elsevier’s EBS).

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

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