The Stakeholder Tightrope:
Evolution of Business Models at
Project MUSE
A BALANCING ACT
A BALANCING ACT
Maximize Revenue
Maximize Distribution
A BALANCING ACT
Maximize Revenue
Maximize Distribution
Respond to Market
Needs and Trends
A BALANCING ACT
Maximize Revenue
Maximize Distribution
Keep Costs Low
SUSTAINABILITY
Respond to Market
Needs and Trends
Journals Product Lifecycle
• 20 year arc
• Fairly slow evolution
• Primarily focused on meeting needs of
(unexpectedly) diverse customer base
Collections Designed for a Diverse Bunch of Customers
2015: Supplemental Journal Bundles
Books Product Lifecycle
• New models annually since introduction
• Extremely rapid evolution
• Simultaneously addressing multiple
concerns across libraries and publishers
+ UPeC
=
Evolving the Model
Diversity of Books Business Models
Library Acquisition Preferences <–> Publisher Autonomy/Sustainability
Collections
+ Simplicity
+ Value
+ Discovery
Diversity of Books Business Models
Library Acquisition Preferences <–> Publisher Autonomy/Sustainability
Collections
+ Simplicity
+ Value
+ Discovery
Single Title Sales
+ Choice
+ Customization
+ Control
Diversity of Books Business Models
Library Acquisition Preferences <–> Publisher Autonomy/Sustainability
Collections
+ Simplicity
+ Value
+ Discovery
Single Title Sales
+ Choice
+ Customization
+ Control
Evidence-Based
Acquisition
+ Discovery
+ Choice
+ Max $
UPCC Books on MUSE
Evidence-Based Acquisitions Pilot Program
• Limited number of participants, ideally diverse pool
• Library makes budget commitment and deposits funds
with MUSE
• Library can choose all books available for single title
purchase or filter set on selected criteria (publisher,
pub date, subject, price)
• Minimum 6 months, maximum 12 months for access
UPCC Books on MUSE
Evidence-Based Acquisitions Pilot Program
• Monthly COUNTER reports provided
• Library may review usage and make selections as
frequently as monthly
• Price is publisher-set single title price (with multiplier
for system or consortial programs)
• Purchases charged against funds deposited at start of
program
…the next step