Beyond Cost Per Use: Exploring Multivariable E-Resource Assessment

The converging pressures of dwindling budgets, increasing subscription costs, and shifting user expectations has intensified the impact of collection management decision making. Assessing e-resource subscriptions is an integral part of any library’s collection management process, though it is especially important in academic environments. While cost per use (CPU) can be a straightforward and informative measure to consider, that lone data point might not reveal the true value of an e-resource. This paper outlines a multifaceted assessment strategy that considers the various merits of an e-resource, such as supporting accreditation, providing access to material not easily obtained through resource-sharing channels, discoverability, platform ease of use, and the quality of vendor support or responsiveness.Incorporating CPU data into a more holistic rubric might require additional time and energy, but the resulting decisions to renew or discontinue subscriptions will be more nuanced and compatible with a library’s underlying commitment to curating distinctive and accessible e-resource collections. While the proposed rubric is not a panacea, it is an inherently flexible tool that can be customized at the local level to help libraries define and articulate their priorities, analyze value as a multifaceted concept, and strategically invest their collection budgets into resources that resonate with long-term goals and needs.