JISC-led Strategic Content Alliance and Ithaka S+R have released a research that looks at 12 different digital resource projects across the globe and how they are successfully identifying sources of support and generating revenue. Spending on digital resources is under the spotlight in this international study, which aims to help the not-for-profit sector develop cost-effective strategies for financing technology. The studies demonstrate that, while many projects are attempting to generate some revenue through subscription, pay-per-view and a range of licensing arrangements, their income still depends heavily on support from the institutions that host them.
'Ithaka Case Studies in Sustainability' consists of examples of digital resource projects in higher education and the cultural heritage sector, and a final report, 'Sustaining Digital Resources: An On-the-Ground View of Projects Today'. The final report is written by Ithaka S+R analysts Nancy L. Maron, K. Kirby Smith and Matthew Loy. The case studies seek to provide a rare glimpse into the strategies of 12 digital initiatives across Europe, the Middle East and North America - ranging from an online scholarly encyclopaedia of philosophy to an image licensing operation at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Each case is extensively researched, complete with interviews with key stakeholders, details of the costs and revenues that each project generates, and information on the decision-making process behind the strategies.
The work was jointly funded by JISC's Strategic Content Alliance in the UK; and the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation in the US. The full report and case studies are available online and open for comment. The final report argues that sustainability entails much more than simply covering the costs of putting a resource online, but also ongoing development to suit the evolving needs of its users. The paper presents a framework for thinking about sustainability and outlines the five stages of developing a successful sustainability model. The stages range from acquiring a deep understanding of users and their needs, to thinking broadly about the range of revenue models that might be possible.
The work is part of a long term examination into the sustainability of digital content, supported by the JISC-led Strategic Content Alliance in the UK. It builds upon the 2008 Ithaka Report, 'Sustainability and Online Revenue Models for Online Academic Resources'.
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