From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum

[mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Geller, Marilyn

Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 7:41 AM

To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU

Subject: [SERIALST] Database return on investment



I'm hoping other continuing resources people can help me answer this

question: What is a good return on investment?  Or what's a "good" cost

per use?



I'm not asking how to get these numbers; rather I'm wondering what these

numbers mean once you have them.  I recognize that there are a dozen

reasons for paying for some databases no matter what the cost per use

is.  And I recognize that cost per use doesn't necessarily mean that a

database was used "well".  I also recognize that "use" can have a

variety of meanings.  



But right now, I need to be able to say simply how much certain

databases cost per each use and whether that's a good indicator or a bad

one.  Does anyone have that magic (possibly meaningless!) number?



Thanks,



Marilyn Geller

Collection Management Librarian

Lesley University Library

29 Everett Street

Cambridge, MA 02138



Email: mgeller@lesley.edu

Phone: 617-349-8859