Comparing consortial and differential pricing models

In these days of shrinking budgets, libraries are ever more concerned with refinement and accountability in collection development. Evidence‐based decisions are becoming the rule rather than the exception. However, there are a number of ways to measure the quality of user services. The immediate satisfaction of present users, efficiency in obtaining items on demand, owning materials for potential future use, serving as a clearinghouse for national researchers, or simply reducing expenditures are all viable ways to view success, based upon your mission and budget. Within this scenario consortial arrangements may serve a vital role. Often the decision to utilize a consortial option is determined by discounted prices. One does not often weigh the value of these short‐term and long‐term consortial costs and benefits compared to the options presented by implementing the newly developing locally determined differential pricing schema. This article will discuss some of these considerations.