Abstract

This study analyzed the number of electronic journal subscriptions, subscription fees, usage, cost-effectiveness, etc. of university libraries to identify limitations and problems. Based on this, a case library was selected and the simulation tools Unsub was used to compare the efficiency of package subscriptions and individual subscriptions and suggest improvement measures. In the case of C University Library, SAGE and Emerald were found to be cost-effective as package subscriptions, while ScienceDirect and OUP were found to be worth considering for individual subscriptions. In particular, OUP was found to save £6,063 per year with individual subscriptions, and the ratio of accessible and usable articles reached 85.8%. In addition, ScienceDirect was found to be the most effective model for combining individual subscriptions and pay-per-view systems, considering budget savings and ease of use. Based on the results of this case study, the limitations of Unsub’s application and policy tasks for developing a ‘K-Unsub’ version suitable for the Korean situation were suggested.