COST OF ELECTRONIC REFERENCE RESOURCES AND LCM - THE LIBRARY COSTING MODEL

This article views assessment of ''Costs of Electronic Reference Resou rces'' both in a general descriptive framework and within the context of a specific model for costing of library operations and services cal led LCM-The Library Costing Model. It provides examples of uses of cos ting data and considers alternative units of work for measuring costs. The framework is then presented as a matrix that relates categories o f cost (i.e., acquisitions, staff, direct expenses, and indirect costs ) to types of electronic reference resources (i.e., acquired electroni c materials such as CD-ROMs, databases and access to them, electronic document delivery, staff services for use of electronic resources, sys tems and equipment for communication and processing, and supplies). Of special significance is the distinction between the first three categ ories of costs which may be directly assignable and the fourth categor y which by their nature must be proportionally allocated. The article describes LCM as a means for analyzing costs in such a framework, with emphasis on the means by which it currently handles costs of electron ic reference resources. As background, the article discusses the gener al effects of automation upon costs of library operations and services and suggests that it is not a means for saving of costs but in fact r esults in increases in costs; the values in automation come from impro ved services, as represented by the electronic reference resources the mselves. The article then discusses possible changes in LCM so as bett er to handle electronic resources within it.