SPIE is again freezing subscription prices for its digital library for 2015, even while expanding content
BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA -- Subscription prices for the SPIE Digital Library will remain frozen at current levels again next year, in keeping with a trend for steady or lower prices every year since 2009, the publisher has announced.
The decision is aligned with the mission of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, to ensure affordable access to its extensive collection of multidisciplinary conference proceedings and journals to the greatest number of researchers, and demonstrates its commitment to address the ongoing budgetary pressures facing libraries, said SPIE Director of Publications Eric Pepper.
Over the past several years, SPIE has either reduced or frozen prices, so that prices for 2015 are 15% less than in 2009. At the same time, in addition to publishing approximately 18,000 new research papers annually, the society continues to add additional publications.
Pepper said that many librarians at subscribing institutions have expressed appreciation for SPIE's pricing approach for the past six years.
"It is gratifying to know that at least one of our publishers is able to keep the cost increases to a minimum and in your case to zero for the past several years," said one. "We have been facing at least 5% increases to all of our online subscriptions and in some cases 8% to as high as 20% increases in journal prices. With a flat-to-minimum increase in my annual budget, this frequently means some resources have not been renewed due to budget constraints. I know that our faculty and students use the SPIE Digital Library and publish in SPIE journals, so I want to formally thank you for continuing to make these tools available."
"SPIE has been notable for two reasons: they actually cut their prices, and they have made good on their commitment to make this a long-term plan to attract more subscribers," said another librarian. "It isgreat to see a publisher working with libraries for the benefit of the whole community."
The SPIE Digital Library contains more than 400,000 articles from SPIE journals and proceedings, as well as more than 200 eBooks. Abstracts are freely searchable, and an increasing number of full journal articles are published with open access.
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. The Society serves nearly 256,000 constituents from approximately 155 countries, offering conferences, continuing education, books, journals, and a digital library in support of interdisciplinary information exchange, professional networking, and patent precedent. SPIE provided more than $3.2 million in support of education and outreach programs in 2013.
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