Library staff say rising publisher costs driving digital budget choices; Beehive consortium plays central role

Summary

Library staff told the commission they increased collections spending and are weighing more digital allocations because publisher pricing and licensing models (metered/one-copy options) are raising costs; staff described how the statewide Beehive Library Consortium and the OverDrive/Libby platform allocate titles and holds.

Orem Public Library staff told the commission that rising publisher prices and licensing models for e-materials are influencing how the library balances spending between physical collections, digital purchases and programs.

Bryce (library administrator) said the library increased its total collections budget by $69,000 this year and that staff shifted some equipment and major-supplies funds into a central admin budget to prioritize larger projects. He also said last years collections increase was $40,000. Programming funding rose by $21,000, he added, and the library has worked to reduce staff time spent administering fines while keeping a limited fines-and-fees policy.

On revenue, staff said fines and fees historically produced about $40,000 a year but have declined to roughly $16,000 this year; staff said revenue from Library Hall rentals and ticketed shows has…

Library staff say rising publisher costs driving digital budget choices; Beehive consortium plays central role

Summary

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