New Research Article: Measuring Cost per Use of Library-Funded Open Access Article Processing Charges: Examination and Implications of One Method
The following research article was recently made available online by the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication.
Title
Measuring Cost per Use of Library-Funded Open Access Article Processing Charges: Examination and Implications of One Method
Authors
Crystal Hampson
University of Saskatchewan
Elizabeth Stregger
Mount Allison University, CA
Source
Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication (JLSC); 5(1)
eP2182
doi: 10.7710/2162-3309.2182
Abstract
Libraries frequently support their open access (OA) fund using money from their collections budget. Interest in assessment of OA funds is arising. Cost per use is a common method to assess library collections expenditures. OA article processing charges (APCs) are a one-time cost for global, perpetual use. Article level metrics provide data on global, cumulative article level usage. This article examines a method and discusses the limitations and implications of using article level metrics to calculate cost per use for OA APCs.
METHODS Using different APC models from two publishers, PLOS and BioMed Central, this article presents a cost per use formula for each model.
RESULTS The formula for each model is demonstrated with available data. The examples suggest a very low cost per use for OA APCs after only three years.
DISCUSSION Several limitations exist to obtaining article level data currently, including the nature of open access and accessibility of the data. OA articles’ usage levels are high and include use from altruistic access. Cost per use comparison with traditional publishing models is possible; however, comparison between different OA expenditures with very low costs per use may not be helpful.
CONCLUSION Article level metrics can provide a means to measure cost per use of OA APCs. Libraries need increased access to article level usage data. They will also need to develop new benchmarks and expectations to evaluate APC payments, given higher usage levels for OA articles and considering altruistic access.
Direct to Full Text Article
20 pages; PDF
Filed under: Companies (Publishers/Vendors), Data Files, Libraries, News, Open Access, PLOS, Publishing, Reports
About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.