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Atla / SCELC Affiliate Program

 The Atla/SCELC Affiliate program is intended to provide Atla institutional members with the opportunity to license electronic resources not currently available through local consortial agreements. All Atla institutional members located in the United States are eligible to become Atla/SCELC Affiliates; they will then be able to acquire access to electronic resources at reduced rates negotiated by SCELC. Both Atla and SCELC staff members are available to assist potential affiliates throughout this process.

Why did Atla choose SCELC as a partner?

Atla members have requested consortial access to e-resources at a discount. While Atla staff have been successful in negotiating several arrangements, Atla decided to seek a partner that could provide broader offerings at the best price to libraries. SCELC was selected due to its cooperative, library-focused reputation and affordable fee schedule.

SCELC has many years of experience negotiating and managing cooperative licensing of electronic resources for libraries of nonprofit, public, or private academic and research institutions, including many Atla institutional members. Atla is pleased to present the Atla/SCELC Affiliate Program as the latest in a series of valuable Atla member benefits.

Is your library eligible?

In order to participate in this program, your library must:

  • Be an institutional member of Atla located in the United States (your library does not have to be located in California to participate)
  • Have a dedicated IP range assigned to your institution
  • Agree to the payment policies and procedures described in the SCELC Member and Affiliate Guidelines

How do you join?

To become an Atla/SCELC Affiliate, please complete the following two items direct-linked at the bottom of this page:

Is there a cost to join the Atla/SCELC Affiliate program?

There are no up-front costs. Atla/SCELC Affiliates are under no obligation to purchase or subscribe to eResources upon joining SCELC, and there are no minimum annual requirements to maintain. Your library's level of participation is solely your decision.

How will you learn about SCELC's licensing opportunities?

All vendors and resources are listed in ConsortiaManager or by request. SCELC librarians also receive monthly email announcements highlighting newly available products and licensing opportunities. Additionally, SCELC encourages vendors to provide you with free product trials and webinars to help you make informed decisions for your institution. For inquiries regarding specific resources, contact us.

How will you be billed?

New purchases or subscriptions are billed upon order to the library from SCELC. Annual subscription and access fees for all of your SCELC licensed resources are consolidated in one statement called the "Master Renewal" invoice, similar to that of a subscription agent.

What does SCELC charge for its services?

At no point will surcharges from SCELC make a licensed resource more expensive for your institution than if you went directly to the vendor. SCELC never expects you to pay more for a resource through the Atla/SCELC Affiliate program than if you licensed the content on your own.

Every resource licensed through SCELC is subject to:

  • An Administrative Surcharge of 1%-5%, which applies to all SCELC libraries.
  • An Affiliate Transaction Fee, typically no more than $50 per transaction

These fees help cover SCELC's overhead for licensing, billing, and customer service. More information on these charges are detailed in the SCELC Guidelines.

What are your responsibilities?

Although SCELC manages vendor payment and license negotiation, you have responsibilities as an Atla/SCELC Affiliate. You will be expected to:
  • Pay your SCELC invoices in accordance with procedures in the SCELC Guidelines.
  • Notify SCELC of any changes to your library's IP range, points of contact, or other appropriate institutional information.
  • Work with your IT department as necessary to ensure that SCELC licensed resources are accessible within your institution.
  • Inform your staff and patrons about the availability and use of SCELC licensed resources.

Can you become a SCELC Member on your own?

SCELC Members pay annual dues of $750, but are not charged Affiliate Transaction fees. If your institution is charged more than $750 in Affiliate Transaction fees in any given year, you may find it beneficial to apply for SCELC Membership. For more information see Join SCELC.