The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), publisher of Radiology and RadioGraphics, has always attracted and disseminated the highest quality radiologic research and educational material at affordable prices. In fact, over the past three years, RSNA journals have maintained their institutional subscription prices while the prices of other journals have escalated. At the same time, RSNA has invested in a number of journal services and features to bring subscribers the consistent excellence they expect from Radiology and RadioGraphics.

While new online features and supplements have added value to the content of RSNA journals, they have also increased expenses. In addition, publishing expenses have increased due to rising costs for online hosting, printing, paper and peer review. Nevertheless, editors Herbert Kressel, M.D., of Harvard Medical School, and William Olmsted, M.D., of the University of Maryland, continue to publish the best in medical imaging research and education—without compromise.

Our Radiology Library Advisory Board, comprising medical librarians from various types/sizes of institutions, has described the process librarians use to reach purchasing decisions, has informed us of the difficulty of maintaining comprehensive library collections with limited funds, and has indicated a preference for online over printed publications.

Taking all these facts into consideration, RSNA recognizes that it must modify its pricing and distribution model to accommodate your needs as well as the business realities of this evolving industry. As of July 2008, RSNA journals will be distributed as online services and pricing will be customized to institution type and usage level. Academic institutions will be given a specific tier price based on their Carnegie classification or Shop for Journals description. Individual hospitals and networks will also be priced by tier, determined by the number of hospital beds and member hospitals. Corporations will be required to sign an RSNA license that will accommodate the need for global use, medical information purposes and marketing rights. Academic consortia and hospital networks will be offered RSNA licenses should the needs of these institutions go beyond those offered by subscriber rights and restrictions.

Throughout the next few months, we will provide frequent updates on RSNA's new mission-based pricing. In April 2008, we will send all institutional subscribers their assigned tier and price or license.

Roberta E. Arnold, M.A., M.H.P.E.
Director of Publications