ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the discussion about the state of mergers at NASIG conference. It explains that what industry consolidation means for libraries, publishers, and vendors. Historically, publishing mergers have resulted in higher prices. Publishers maintain that libraries benefit from mergers because larger companies will be able to take advantage of economies of scale and decrease costs. Librarians worry that there will be little competition between the European publishers and, if they focus on profit, prices will rise. Kim Maxwell stated that she would focus on vendors and subscription agents because, as a serials acquisitions librarian, she deals with subscription agents and vendors all the time. Keith Courtney reads from Scholarly Communication Reports that it would be good for smaller companies that are focused on specific tasks to find ways to implement some form of coopetition. Coopetition is the term developed to identify the need for competitors to manage to cooperate so that the businesses can manage to survive.
