I don’t like hotel pricing policies any more than I do electronic resources pricing, but it’s an interesting comparison. With hotel rates, it is often the case these days that the rate for the room is the same whether one person occupies it or 4. But the inequity comes in to play when one considers that a single occupant is probably not going to use as many towels and linens as a group of 3 or 4. That’s why I have had to bite the bullet and get a roommate for the NASIG Conferences. I can’t afford $169 or $159 a night by myself. (I sure was happy to find a $89/night hotel the last time I had to attend a meeting in Austin, and it was just as comfortable as the overpriced “resort” hotels! There was no extra charge for high-speed Internet access in the rooms, and there was a free afternoon drink and snack buffet and a free breakfast!)

With electronic access, one doesn’t have to spend money laundering the extra sheets and towels. However, I do have to admit that I don’t know how much “wear and tear” servers undergo. Our own servers probably undergo similar wear and tear, though surely in different proportions, but we don’t charge our own students according to the amount of wear and tear they place upon our servers. Maybe we should. Engineering students would complain, since they could very possibly end up paying the higher fee.

Sarah Tusa, Associate Professor

Coordinator of Collection Development & Acquisitions

Mary & John Gray Library, Lamar University

PO Box 10021

Beaumont, TX 77710-0021

Ph: 409/880-8125

Fax: 409/880-8225

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Dowd
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 6:46 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Just a thought . . .

How about comparing to a hotel room? We each reserve a room with two double beds, but I'm staying by myself and you are with your spouse and another couple. Should you pay more? How many people benefit?

Bob Dowd
Senior Librarian
Documents Section
New York State Library
Cultural Education Center
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12230

518.474.8846

>>> "Skwor, Jeanette" <skworj@UWGB.EDU> 10/7/2009 4:41 PM >>>

And are you going to record it? My goodness, you potentially are providing an infinite number of people with (potential) viewership.

(Gasp!)

I think my head hurts.

Jeanette L. Skwor
Cofrin Library, Serials Dept.
UW-Green Bay
2420 Nicolet Drive
Green Bay, WI 54311

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Wilma Dague
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 2:59 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Just a thought . . .

I think a more appropriate analogy would be charging for every viewer of a television program. So if we have five people in our family and you have ten, should you pay more?

Best regards,

Wilma Weant Dague
Serials Coordinator
Benedictine College Library

St. Benedict's Abbey Library
1020 North 2nd St.
Atchison, KS 66002

(913) 360-7610
wdague@benedictine.edu

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Sarah D. Tusa
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 9:00 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Just a thought . . .