Access Problem Solving (digprob)
NERD's Guiding Principles
For Reducing the Cost of Digital Products
In deciding where to reduce digital resource costs, NERD will be guided by the principles outlined below. These principles interrelate and should be considered as a group; individual principles should not (and cannot logically) be considered independently of one another.
Importance to User Community
Products that are seen as highly important by MIT users will be retained if possible; those products that are not highly esteemed by MIT users are more likely to be cancelled or have access or content reduced.
Key Questions related to this principle: How literature-dependent is the field/discipline served by this product? Is there a user group (e.g. graduate students, faculty) that particularly needs this product? What is the value to key stakeholders-are there faculty with known and expressed need for this product? What is the importance of the subject covered by the product to MIT? What level of use does usage data show? What would the impact on user productivity be if this product were not available?Importance to Discipline(s)
Products essential to a discipline at MIT will be retained if possible; those products that are less essential to one or more disciplines are more likely to be cancelled or have access or content reduced.
Key Questions related to this principle: How important is this product to the discipline it serves? Is it interdisciplinary? If this is primary literature, is this of particular significance to the discipline(s)? If it is secondary literature, is this of particular significance to the discipline(s)? Is there a program at MIT in the area the product supports, and is this product essential to it?Characteristics of User Community
Products that are used and needed by a larger or more significant community at MIT will be retained if possible; those that server smaller or less significant communities are more likely to be cancelled or have access or content reduced.
Key Questions related to this principle: How large is the user community? What is the user community's ranking nationally and internationally? What is the scope and breadth of the user community?Interconnections With Existing Collection
Products that are unique, or integrate with other products in a way that significantly adds value, will be retained if possible; those products that do not add value through linkages or integration with other products, or which overlap significantly in content and purposes with other products, are more likely to be cancelled or have access or content reduced.
Key Questions related to this principle: Is there overlap with other products? Is the product unique? Are there alternative formats, and do we own them? How is this product, or is this product, integrated with other products?Institutional Commitment
Products involved in special partnerships at MIT, or those to whom MIT has made an institutional commitment, will receive special consideration for retention.
Key Questions related to this principle: Are there partnerships at MIT that relate to this product? Does the product represent a new model of scholarly communication and publication that we want to support? Has MIT made some commitment to this product or the model it represents?Other Factors and Considerations:
While not having the weight or scope of key principles, there are additional factors we consider in making final product cancellation or cost reduction decisions. These are:Usability: Products that have interfaces that are user-friendly, intuitive, and efficient to use will be be retained if possible; those products that offer barriers to ready access are more likely to be cancelled or have access or content reduced.
Business Model: Products that come to us at a reasonable price and under terms we find attractive are more likely to be retained, other factors being equal; those products whose vendors have undesirable terms or policies are more likely to be cancelled or have access or content reduced.
Systems Support: Products that require extra staff time from the Systems Office may require additional evidence that they still represent value to our collection.
Type of Cost Reduction Possible: While decisions often come down to retaining versus canceling a product, NERD will also consider opportunities to reduce the cost of a product, rather than cancel it. The decision to seek cost reductions available through interface change, reducing simultaneous users, or reducing the range of content available will be made in relation to the other guiding principles; at times, it may be possible to reduce the cost of a product (by restricting simultaneous users, for example) without measurably affecting service; at other times, products that are more likely to be targeted for possible cancellation will be subject to these kinds of cost containment measures despite a service impact. If possible, given the context of our overall guidelines, cuts that are relatively more reversible will be made over less reversible cuts. (Examples of more reversible cuts: reducing the number of simultaneous users or canceling a product that can be restored without significant losses in holdings or finances.)