Charges for on line searches in university libraries: a report on a survey

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Abstract
A survey was undertaken on behalf of SCONUL in the summer of 1981, with the aim of determining the policies of United Kingdom university libraries on charging for on-line information retrieval. The survey hoped to find out: (a) why libraries charge; (b) the effects of charges; (c) how the level and type of charge is established. The responses suggest that charging has an impact on the volume and quality of searches; that the effect is most severe on postgraduate students; and that the effect can be mitigated by altering the type and level of charge imposed. A fixed fee charge would appear to offer the best prospect of recouping a substantial part of the costs without discouraging a significant number of potential users.
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