Primary Research Group has published The Survey of Library Database Licensing Practices, 2013 Edition, ISBN 978-1-57440-248-3.

The study looks closely at the database licensing practices of major academic and research libraries, examining issues such as disputes with vendors, purchasing plans, spending volume, impact of open access journals, staff time related to database purchases, and many other issues of interest to acquisitions and licensing librarians and others involved in intellectual property purchasing. Among the issues covered are: spending plans for e-books, electronic directories, electronic journals, index databases; current and projected spending broken down by subject area; use of attorneys in disputes with database vendors; and much more.

Just a few of the study's major findings are that: 

• Libraries in the sample spent a mean of approximately $6,500 for journal articles that are not part of any subscription, less than 2% of spending for subscribed journals
• More than a quarter of libraries sampled make "extensive use" of the free access to back issues now offered by many journal publishers
• 58.82% of those surveyed say that they have never had any serious problems with database vendors adhering to contract terms regarding downtime, product availability and timeliness, billing, perpetual access, and other contractual terms

The report ($85.00) is available from Primary Research Group and also from major book vendors such as Amazon, Baker & Taylor, Yankee Book Peddler, Midwest Library Services, Overdrive, Research and Markets, and other distributors of content. For a free excerpt, table of contents, and list of survey participants, or to place an order, visit our website at www.PrimaryResearch.com.