The Consortium Site License: A Sustainable Model?

The spread of consortial licensing and the ‘Big Deal’ has been rapid and far-reaching. While there would appear to be many advantages associated with this purchasing model, there are also reservations about its impact on librarian choice and concerns that it may serve to further consolidate the dominant position of some of the biggest STM publishers. However, until recently little qualitative or quantitative research had been undertaken into the impact this purchasing model is having upon the scholarly communication system. This article summaries the findings of a research programme run by the Ingenta Institute in 2002 which consisted of three separate independent studies into the perceived advantages and disadvantages of the consortial site license for libraries, institutions, publishers and end-users. Preliminary conclusions suggest that while this model has brought many benefits to all stakeholders, it is unlikely to continue in its current form, with significant adaptation and development anticipated at the next round of consortial license renewal. While the number of consortial deals may indeed increase in the future, these deals will not necessarily be ‘Big Deals’.