Citation
(2002), "Online information market growth set to improve in 2001", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 30 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2002.12230dab.019
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Online information market growth set to improve in 2001
The following may be a bit out of date but does underline the parallel markets for ILL and document delivery. The academic and public library market differs sharply from the one described below – especially the reference to no cuts in budgets! The updated 2002 survey will be available shortly.
"Despite the depressed state of much of the economy, the value of the European online information market is expected to grow by an estimated 6 per cent (at current prices) in 2001, producing a market valued at almost £1 billion (£984 million). The research, commissioned by Learned Information Europe Ltd and conducted by IRN Services Ltd, in November 2001, reveals that the strongest sector is expected to be the European online business information market with growth of 8 per cent in 2001, while the online scientific information market should increase in value by 5 per cent in 2001.
Consolidation of the industry continued in 2001, led by more acquisitions by major players such as Thomson Corporation, Wolters Kluwer, and Reed Elsevier. Nevertheless, no single player yet dominates the general online business information or online scientific information markets. With an increasing array of free and fee-based services to choose from, competition in the marketplace is also having some downward effect on prices.
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Over three-quarters of all information professionals working with business information and over 80 per cent of information professionals working with scientific information normally go direct to services and sources on the Web when searching for information. In contrast, less than a quarter use corporate intranets or portals to access external data.
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Information professionals are using fewer paid-for services: instead of paying for various, often overlapping, services these users are becoming more discerning and opting for key preferred providers.
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A significant minority of information professionals, over 40 per cent, work in organisations where end-users also buy external information independently of the information centre or library.
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Despite the possibility of an economic downturn in Europe in 2002, few information professionals are expecting their information budgets to be cut in the next year.
For further information about the survey visit www.learned.co.uk/report, or contact Daniel Griffin. Tel: +44 (0)1932 730736; e-mail: dgriffin@imark.co.uk