publishing partnerships: why, when, and how collaboration sometimes trumps competition
TRANSCRIPT
Publishing Partnerships or Why, When, and How Collaboration Sometimes Trumps CompetitionResources for College Libraries
Irv RockwoodEditor & Publisher, Choice
Publishing Partnerships: A Taxonomy
•Distribution partnerships▫May be non-exclusive or exclusive
•Marketing partnerships▫Typically combined with distribution agreement▫May be exclusive or non-exclusive
•Editorial partnerships▫Typically combined with marketing &
distribution agreements•Co-publication
▫Typically exclusive by market
Publishing Partnerships: A Rationale
• Obtain access to resources or capabilities that are highly desirable or essential to the success of the project but too costly to build from scratch
• The African tick bird
Resources for College Libraries: The Genealogy• Shaw, List of Books for College Libraries, ALA,
1931• Books for College Libraries, ALA, 1967 (BCL1)• Books for College Libraries 2nd Edition, ALA,
1975 (BCL2)• Books for College Libraries 3rd Edition, ALA,
1988 (BCL3)• Resources for College Libraries, Bowker/ACRL,
2006 (RCL)• Resources for College Libraries 2.0,
Bowker/ACRL, 2011 (RCL2)
BCL4: Assessing the Need (circa 2002)•The historic rationale (BCL1): “…to fill the
long-recognized need for a retrospective list of books to serve as a book selection aid for college libraries…. This retrospective list of books has been deliberately and directly related to the reviewing journal, Choice, in that it includes only titles published prior to 1964.”
Changing Times & Needs: Then
•Books as the core academic library resource
•A smaller universe of titles with a finite window of availability (the OP problem)
•Ownership a prerequisite to convenient access
•“Just in case” collection strategy
Changing Times & Needs: Now
•Books increasingly supplemental to the journal collection (but varies by field)
•More titles, often in multiple formats (e-books)
•Access no longer requires ownership or even purchase (PDA)
•“Just in time” collection strategy
The New Books for College Libraries
• More potential users + many more titles = a continued need for reliable benchmark(s) of quality
• But some new requirements:▫Fit the list to the actual college curriculum,
especially interdisciplinary programs▫Add electronic resources to the mix▫Put it online▫Update it regularly (no more one-shot efforts)
• Voila, the Resources for College Libraries concept!
Making It Happen: The Go It Alone Option• Pluses
▫Editorially feasible▫Provides maximum editorial and product control▫Financially feasible (just barely)
• Minuses▫Limited marketing capabilities & resources▫High opportunity costs▫Longer development cycle?▫Sustainability issues (keeping up with the likes of
Wiley, Gale, Elsevier, Thomson, Oxford, etc.)▫Too many eggs in one basket?
Making It Happen: The Partnership Option• Pluses
▫Editorially feasible▫ Improved financial feasibility▫Enhanced marketing capabilities & resources▫Lower opportunity costs▫Faster development cycle▫Long-term resource requirements become (largely)
the partner’s problem▫Lower risk factor
• Minuses▫Editorial independence and input on product design
determined by terms of the relationship
The Ideal Partner: Looking for the Perfect Fit•Recognized player in the marketplace•Technological resources•Marketing resources•Ability to supply bibliographic metadata•Strategic fit
▫RCL as complement to existing products▫Relationship of RCL to core business
•Interest in the project•Willingness to ensure editorial
independence
RCL & R. R. Bowker, LLCTechnological resourcesRecognized player in the marketplaceMarketing resourcesBibliographic metadataStrategic fit
RCL complements existing productsRelationship of RCL to core business
Interest in the projectWillingness to ensure editorial
independence
RCL Division of ResponsibilitiesChoice Bowker
• Recruit and supervise subject editors
• Recruit and supervise reviewers
• Establish and manage editorial procedures, schedules, and content
• Provide editorial content, including Choice reviews where applicable
• Input on product development & marketing
• Provide editorial team with access to BIP data
• Product development• Product support (editorial
team)• Marketing• Sales• Customer service
including technical support & training
• Product development strategy with input from Choice
The Results: A Brief RCL Chronology
•May 2005 RCL agreement signed•September 2005 First iteration of
authoring system (RCLAS); data entry begins
•September 2006 RCL Web 1.0 launch•November 2006 RCL Print published;
BBAS roll-out•June 2009 RCL Career Resources 1.0•November 2011 RCL 2.0 product
family
Assessing the Results: The RCL Partnership•Synergies:
▫BIP data▫BIP product development plans & strategies
•Much shorter time to publication•Substantially greater marketing &
technology resources than Choice could have brought to the project
•Preservation of (reliance on) Choice editorial independence
•Sustainable & ongoing development path
Thank [email protected]
Publishing Partnerships: Why, When, and How Collaboration Sometimes Trumps Competition
Mark Tullos, MLISSenior Product Manager, Bowker
About Bowker• Bowker is a leading provider of bibliographic information
management solutions designed to help publishers, booksellers, and libraries better serve their customers.
• Bowker develops industry-leading tools and products that make books easier for people to discover, evaluate, order, and experience, as well as provides services to publishers that deliver key insights of readership worldwide.
• Bowker is a member of the ProQuest family of companies and is headquartered in New Providence, N.J., with additional operations in England and Australia.
Bowker Library Services• For over 130 years, Bowker has been the proud
publisher of the Books in Print database used by hundreds of libraries worldwide.
• Bowker also provides Syndetics Solutions catalog enrichment
• Bowker, along with CHOICE publishes the Resources for College Libraries (RCL) service for 2 and 4 year academic institutions.
• Bowker’s Book Analysis System provides larger scale collection analysis tool used in tandem with RCL
Where to find Bowker Data
Publishing Shift• In 2010, Bowker ceased internal print operations,
focusing strictly on electronic distribution• Around this same time, CHOICE and Bowker began
discussion over both continuing the partnership and producing a new version of RCL Web
• CHOICE and Bowker’s IT and Product team began work on the new product based on the new Books in Print platform which launched at ALA Annual this year
Welcome to the all-new New Resources for College Libraries
Success Story
• Bowker, being the larger player in the partnership brings the product and IT expertise
• Bowker serves all library markets and publishers alike
• But CHOICE has the laser focus on the academic book buyer aiding in decisions a broad based publisher could miss
• This cooperation provides the user with a powerful yet tailored experience
Power of Partnership• CHOICE relies on Bowker to market and sell RCL• CHOICE relies on Bowker to support all the large
scale development worries• Bowker relies on CHOICE for premium editorial
content• Bowker relies on CHOICE for market leading
intelligence on academia beyond sales statistics• Writ large, these bode well for the end user in
quality and reliability of the service
In the Works• New and improved advanced search• Linking of titles to e-book platform titles for
evaluation or purchase• Improved search and discovery through full-text
indexing of e-books• Adding more evaluative e-book information (stock,
price, e-collection, and more)• Additional browsing tools• New BBAS interface and comparison options
Reminder
• The legacy RCL Web product will sunset December 31, 2011
• Sign up for training and make the switch at www.bowkertraining.com
Thank [email protected]
+
Publishing Partnerships: WHY, WHEN, AND HOW COLLABORATION SOMETIMES TRUMPS COMPETITION
THE USER PERSPECTIVEChisato Uyeki, Reference/Collection Development LibrarianMt. San Antonio College Library
+ Mt. San Antonio College• Large community college (35,000 FTE over 200 degree & certificate programs)• Small library (6 FT librarians)• 30 miles east of Los Angeles
+RCL Use
Bowker Book Analysis System Entire collection My areas
Small scale collection analysis
Curriculum alignment work with faculty
Coordinated librarian training
Selector
RCL Editorial Board Member
E = EssentialD = DesireableN = Not necessary
Theatrical Costume, Masks, Make-Up and Wigs: A Bibliography and Iconography
I don’t know this book. I have asked a couple costumers for their opinion about it. I’ll let you know what they say.
Special Effects Make-Up E
Collaboration in Theatre: A Practical Guide for Designers and Directors
E
French 'Classical' Theatre Today: Teaching, Research, Performance
N
The Stage Producer's Business and Legal Guide
N
The Business of Theatrical Design N
Fight Direction for Stage and Screen D
Illustrated Theatre Production Guide E
The Complete Make-up Artist: Working in Film, Television, and Theatre
D
Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen: Making and Applying Prosthetics
E
+Purchasing and Renewal Decisions
The simple answer:
It doesn’t.
Does the publishing partnership between a commercial publisher and non-profit publisher impact purchasing and renewal decisions?
+Decision Criteria
Content• Valuable?
Interface• Works to make content accessible?
Cost• Affordable?
+Purchasing and Renewal Decisions
The not so simple answer:
It does, because of impact on: content interface cost
Does the publishing partnership between a commercial publisher and non-profit publisher impact purchasing and renewal decisions?
+Commercial & Non-profit Publishers
Content Interface Customer Service
+Non-profit publishers
+Original subscription decision
Bowker Book Analysis SystemTechnological
capabilities
Credibility/authoritative editorial content
+Content reigns
RCL valued & authoritativeBooks for College Libraries historyChoice cachetSubject editors & bibliographers expertise
IndependentEssentially volunteer
+Non-commercial matters for content
Comparison: jobber/vendor created booklistsValuableBut connected to stock (trying to sell a product)
Access to “volunteer” subject editors
If Bowker paid editorsCost increaseCould degrade authority
+Content
Bibliographic content from Books in PrintHigh level of accuracyAuthor biosTables of contentsExcerpts
Choice reviews when available
+Interface and Product Design
+Cost
Important to user
Difficult to evaluate impact of partnership on cost For Choice, $$$ for technology & product development For Bowker, $$$ for editorial content
My perspective: Mt. SAC collection ripe for analysis & development Like team of subject bibliographers Worth it!
+Customer Support
Bowker side Changing reps- hard to build relationships Training
Customized webinars on BBAS and RCL/RCL CR Taught at our pace Scheduled for us More useful than general product webinar
+How the partnership benefits users
From user perspective Good collaboration =
Each party contributes strengths toward shared goal Mostly unaware of the behind-the-scenes work
+Thank youQuestions?
+
Publishing Partnerships or Why, When, and How Collaboration Sometimes Trumps CompetitionResources for College Libraries
Irv RockwoodEditor & Publisher, Choice
+Publishing Partnerships: A Taxonomy
Distribution partnerships May be non-exclusive or exclusive
Marketing partnerships Typically combined with distribution agreement May be exclusive or non-exclusive
Editorial partnerships Typically combined with marketing & distribution agreements
Co-publication Typically exclusive by market
+Publishing Partnerships: A Rationale
Obtain access to resources or capabilities that are highly desirable or essential to the success of the project but too costly to build from scratch
The African tick bird
+Resources for College Libraries: The Genealogy
Shaw, List of Books for College Libraries, ALA, 1931
Books for College Libraries, ALA, 1967 (BCL1)
Books for College Libraries 2nd Edition, ALA, 1975 (BCL2)
Books for College Libraries 3rd Edition, ALA, 1988 (BCL3)
Resources for College Libraries, Bowker/ACRL, 2006 (RCL)
Resources for College Libraries 2.0, Bowker/ACRL, 2011 (RCL2)
+BCL4: Assessing the Need (circa 2002)
The historic rationale (BCL1): “…to fill the long-recognized need for a retrospective list of books to serve as a book selection aid for college libraries…. This retrospective list of books has been deliberately and directly related to the reviewing journal, Choice, in that it includes only titles published prior to 1964.”
+Changing Times & Needs: Then
Books as the core academic library resource
A smaller universe of titles with a finite window of availability (the OP problem)
Ownership a prerequisite to convenient access
“Just in case” collection strategy
+Changing Times & Needs: Now
Books increasingly supplemental to the journal collection (but varies by field)
More titles, often in multiple formats (e-books)
Access no longer requires ownership or even purchase (PDA)
“Just in time” collection strategy
+The New Books for College Libraries
More potential users + many more titles = a continued need for reliable benchmark(s) of quality
But some new requirements: Fit the list to the actual college curriculum, especially interdisciplinary
programs Add electronic resources to the mix Put it online Update it regularly (no more one-shot efforts)
Voila, the Resources for College Libraries concept!
+Making It Happen: The Go It Alone Option
Pluses Editorially feasible Provides maximum editorial and product control Financially feasible (just barely)
Minuses Limited marketing capabilities & resources High opportunity costs Longer development cycle? Sustainability issues (keeping up with the likes of Wiley, Gale, Elsevier,
Thomson, Oxford, etc.) Too many eggs in one basket?
+Making It Happen: The Partnership Option
Pluses Editorially feasible Improved financial feasibility Enhanced marketing capabilities & resources Lower opportunity costs Faster development cycle Long-term resource requirements become (largely) the partner’s problem Lower risk factor
Minuses Editorial independence and input on product design determined by terms
of the relationship
+The Ideal Partner: Looking for the Perfect Fit
Recognized player in the marketplace
Technological resources
Marketing resources
Ability to supply bibliographic metadata
Strategic fit RCL as complement to existing products Relationship of RCL to core business
Interest in the project
Willingness to ensure editorial independence
+
RCL & R. R. Bowker, LLC
Technological resources
Recognized player in the marketplace
Marketing resources
Bibliographic metadata
Strategic fit RCL complements existing products Relationship of RCL to core business
Interest in the project
Willingness to ensure editorial independence
+RCL Division of Responsibilities
Choice Bowker Recruit and supervise subject editors
Recruit and supervise reviewers
Establish and manage editorial procedures, schedules, and content
Provide editorial content, including Choice reviews where applicable
Input on product development & marketing
Provide editorial team with access to BIP data
Product development
Product support (editorial team)
Marketing
Sales
Customer service including technical support & training
Product development strategy with input from Choice
+The Results: A Brief RCL Chronology
May 2005 RCL agreement signed
September 2005 First iteration of authoring system (RCLAS); data entry begins
September 2006 RCL Web 1.0 launch
November 2006 RCL Print published; BBAS roll-out
June 2009 RCL Career Resources 1.0
November 2011 RCL 2.0 product family
+Assessing the Results: The RCL Partnership
Synergies: BIP data BIP product development plans & strategies
Much shorter time to publication
Substantially greater marketing & technology resources than Choice could have brought to the project
Preservation of (reliance on) Choice editorial independence
Sustainable & ongoing development path
+Thank [email protected]