What is CARE ? At the end of 2005 CRUI (Conference of Rectors of

Italian Universities) assembly approved a 3 year project called CARE

CARE (Coordinamento per l’accesso alle risorse elettroniche) is a coordination group based on the experience of the 3 italian consortia to allow access to electronic resources

Board composition 12 members 1 representative for each consortia 2 representatives for each consortia users

organisation 3 people designated by CRUI (Conference

of Rectors of Italian Universities). The Care President is chosen among them

Main objectives

Buying electronic research and knowledge tools

Developing common initiatives for the universities, saving money by obtaining the best conditions from the publishers

Activities 1 In order to achieve its goals Care considers the following activities

important

Improving access and e-resources related services at national level

Promoting national deals

Negotiating best license clauses

Devising cost sharing models, proposing business models

Optimizing activities management concerning negotiations, acquisitions and agreements, thereby reducing the costs for institutions

Activities 2

Spreading information avoiding duplication, developing at the same time speed, degree and quality of knowledge

Acting on government VAT issues or other issues penalizing e-resources and their dissemination

Promoting national solutions for long term digital preservation

Maintaining contacts with national and international organisations acting in this area

Working groups and communication

Working groups based on member’s

competences focused on common issues Negotiation groups (direct or indirect

negotiation of agreements)Secretary’s office

Working groups and communication Working groups

Downloads and subscriptions data harvesting working group

Contracts analysis working group

Care’s website planning and developing working group

Working groups and communicationNegotiation groups

Different teams are in charge to negotiate directly with each publisher, reporting to the steering group during meetings or through related discussion lists

In the case of the Elsevier agreement we have chosen to rely on an external negotiator (Content Complete and a local consultant). The Italian mediator has been useful to keep CC up to date and aware about the situation in Italy

CARE Results Negotiations

Closed deals

Elsevier 2008-2012 (first italian national deal, through external negotiators)

Springer 2008-2011 (in house negotiators)Portico 2008-2013 (in house negotiators)

Newly started negotiationsBlackwell-Wiley (in house negotiators)

CARE results Non contractual activities

Producing documents like: E-resources financial and accounting treatment

recommendations Portico and Lockss digital preservation systems

analyses and reports

Lobbying activities for e-resources VAT reduction

Other CARE’s activities

CARE has outlined other high priority activities

Evaluation of the most recent EU norms concerning e-resources acquisition procedures

Suggesting guidelines to interpret the VAT norms concerning non EU acquisitions

Preparing a document on licensing principles