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Richard Stevenson made this Freedom of Information request to Bath Spa University
The request was successful.
From: Richard Stevenson
9 February 2011
Dear Bath Spa University,
Please provide me with the total annual cost of all subscriptions
to academic journals, on paper or electronic, that are made
available to your students from 2005 to 2010.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Stevenson
From: Kevin Wright
Bath Spa University
11 February 2011
Dear Sir
The information you have requested is as follows:
£
2010 301,994
2009 202,744
2008 265,709
2007 162,293
2006 207,093
Regards
Kevin Wright
Head of Finance
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From: Richard Stevenson
11 February 2011
Dear Kevin Wright,
Many thanks for your exceedingly swift and complete reply to my FoI
request. The amounts given are very low compared to the responses
that I've had from other universities, which have been around the
million pound mark for 2010. While you're obviously unable to
comment on the policies of other institutions, do you happen to
have any idea of anything that Bath Spa has done to keep its
journal subscription costs down?
In any case, I consider the FoI request to have been met in full,
so this is an informal request which you may choose to answer at
your discretion.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Stevenson
From: Kevin Wright
Bath Spa University
14 February 2011
Dear Mr Stevenson
Our head of library services has given the following explanation regarding comparison of academic journal costs:
"..significantly, the difference is not so much to do with size but mix of subjects. We have very little STEM (Science Technology, Maths & Engineering) subjects and no law, economics, heath etc. These subjects reply on periodical literature rather than monograph literature".
We are predominantly a teaching University which will explain why we spend more on books and less on academic journals than many other universities.
I hope this helps somewhat but as you can see, as with many of these statistical requests it is a complex issue and difficult to ensure you are comparing like with like.
Regards
Kevin Wright
Head of Finance
show quoted sections
From: Richard Stevenson
14 February 2011
Dear Kevin Wright,
Thankyou for your reply. The service that I have recieved from
yourself and other members of staff at the university has been
excellent.
Best Regards,
Richard Stevenson
From: Kevin Wright
Bath Spa University
14 February 2011
Dear Richard
Thank you for this kind feedback.
Regards
Kevin Wright
Head of Finance
show quoted sections
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