Efficiencies Working Group
UNC System Collaborative E-journal Efficiency Initiative
Background: In 2012, UNC System President Ross requested that the Office of State Budget and Management perform a study seeking ways to improve efficiencies and further leverage state tax dollars within the UNC System. The resulting August 2012 report, the Collaborative Efficiency Review, addressed six different areas. The only area directly related to the UNC Library system is a section on potential ejournal subscription efficiencies. That section notes that the System's performance over recent years is much better than national averages and praises the overall ejournal efficiency of UNC's libraries, but does identify five proposals that might merit further investigation for possible additional efficiencies. In response, ULAC has developed a plan to determine if we can indeed wring additional efficiencies from those five proposals and, if so, how best to implement processes and procedures that will give UNC's faculty, staff, and students the best possible journal access at the least possible cost.
This site will record our progress as we investigate each of the five proposals, and as we subsequently implement appropriate action plans.
- Develop a system-wide e-journal data repository to share information on usage, cost, and license terms - Due December 2012
- Status: Completed. Repository site is operational (Password required)
- Assemble sample e-journal licensing templates that have the potential to improve acess by ensuring uniform terms and conditions - Due December, 2012
- Status: The Working Group has submitted a licensing report, which has been acepted by ULAC.
- Review and report on open access publishing, including suggestions for system-wide sharing of best practices. - Due March 2013
- Status: The Working Group has written an Open Access report, which has been acepted by ULAC. ULAC has appointed an implementation group.
- Develop a plan or model for improving the cost/benefit ratio for e-journal purchasing - Due July 1, 2013
- Status: Awaiting more data. The Working Group has decided to wait for the 2012 cost and usage data (available Feb 2013) before developing the plan.
- Determine if e-procurement could yield additional savings - Due December 2013
- Status: The Working Group plans to turn its attention to this item after the overall e-journal plan is formulated.