The document discusses issues with "big deal" packages offered by large publishers to libraries, which often include third-party content from smaller publishers and societies. It notes that while big deals are beneficial for large publishers, they can negatively impact smaller content providers by reducing transparency, pricing authority, and treating them as an "extended work bench." The document also advises libraries to carefully watch the sustainability, perpetual access rights, and ability to break down costs for third-party content included in big deals. Finally, it suggests some alternative scenarios such as open access initiatives, independent content aggregation, standardization, and libraries dealing with more publishers instead of just a few.

1. Playing with Fire – Why
Publishers Leave the Big Deal
Sven Fund
Charleston, November 6, 2015

2. Big Deal - Big Issues for Smaller Publishers
fullstopp.com
§ Attracting third party content from learned societies and smaller
publishers is an oftentimes inexpensive way for large publishers to
grow big deal offers – and lock in a higher share of the library
budget
§ 25%-35% of all content large publishers distribute is not owned by
them
§ There is a natural end to the big deal, and it seems we are
approaching it: Lower organic growth rates for large publishers

3. Big Deal – What Publishers Need to Watch
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§ While the big publishers are the big winners of the big deal, the
picture is mixed for societies and small publishers, they
§ lose transparency about their customers
§ lose authority over product pricing
§ mutate into an extended work bench of those taking them into
the big deal
§ The big deal changes product calculation – from product to
portfolio

4. Big Deal – What Libraries need to Watch
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§ Sustainability for libraries: Oftentimes unclear contracts on legacy
rights and access rights
§ For how long has the big deal publisher secured 3rd party
content?
§ Is there an exit clause for 3rd party content?
§ How will perpetual access rights be handled for 3rd party
content?
§ Ask big deal publisher to break down the complete package
into units by content provider
§ Make adherence to TRANSFER 3.0 a part of licensing agreements
§ Engage in direct conversations with 3rd party content providers

5. The Big Deal – Alternative Scenarios
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§ Open Access initiatives
§ Aggregation of content outside of large publishers‘ big deals with
simple business models
§ Standardization
§ Libraries’ willingness and ability to deal with more than just a few
publishers

6. Thank you for your attention
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Sven Fund
Managing Director
sven.fund@fullstopp.com
www.fullstopp.com