Proposed TexShare Fee Changes
Background
TSLAC is proposing changes to the way the TexShare Databases program fees are assessed, starting with the August 2027 billing cycle. TexShare Databases program fees are currently determined by a formula that uses expenditure and enrollment or population data for each library. The formula is complex, opaque, and has not been formally re-evaluated since 2017. Additionally, under the current formula and guidelines, fees for most libraries have remained flat since 2017, even though resource contract costs have increased each year. TSLAC staff and members of the Cost Sharing Working Group have been working on a new model with tiered pricing structures that will be more transparent and predictable while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the TexShare Databases program.
Proposed Tier Structure
The new fee model will use a tier structure. This is consistent with other similar e-resource consortia, will make the fee assessment process much more efficient for program staff, and will provide transparency and predictability for libraries participating in the TexShare Databases program. Fee charts will be published every two years to align with funding from the Texas legislature.
TSLAC is proposing distinct tier structures by library type. For public libraries, fees are based on total operating expenditures as reported to TSLAC in the Public Libraries Annual Report.
Academic library fees are broken out into separate tier structures for two-year institutions, four-year institutions, and academic medical libraries. For the two- and four-year institutions, fees are based on total materials expenditures and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment. For academic medical libraries, pricing is based solely on full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment. Academic library expenditure data and enrollment data will be obtained from the IPEDS Academic Libraries survey while available, with TSLAC preparing to collect this data from academic institutions directly in the future.
Draft Fee Charts
Note: The dollar amounts included in the charts below are draft fee amounts for the SFY 2028-2029 biennium. Actual fee amounts will not be finalized until November 2026, after a formal public comment period.
| Tier Name | Total Operating Expenditures | Proposed Fee |
|---|---|---|
| I | $0 - $100,000 | $100.00 |
| II | $100,001 - $300,000 | $175.00 |
| III | $300,001 - $500,000 | $325.00 |
| IV | $500,001 - $1,000,000 | $575.00 |
| V | $1,000,001 - $3,000,000 | $1,600.00 |
| VI | $3,000,001 - $9,000,000 | $4,500.00 |
| VII | $9,000,001 - $20,000,000 | $12,000.00 |
| VIII | $20,000,001 - $30,000,000 | $21,000.00 |
| IX | Greater than $30,000,000 | $41,000.00 |
| Tier Name | Materials Expenditures | Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment | Proposed Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Greater than $500,001 | >20,000 | $27,000.00 |
| 1B | Greater than $500,001 | <20,000 | $24,000.00 |
| 2A | $300,001 - $500,000 | >10,000 | $18,000.00 |
| 2B | $300,001 - $500,000 | <10,000 | $9,000.00 |
| 3A | $100,001 - $300,000 | >10,000 | $12,000.00 |
| 3B | $100,001 - $300,000 | 5-10,000 | $7,000.00 |
| 3C | $100,001 - $300,000 | <5,000 | $4,000.00 |
| 4A | $50,001 - $100,000 | >2,000 | $2,500.00 |
| 4B | $50,001 - $100,000 | <2,000 | $1,850.00 |
| 5A | Less than $50,000 | >3,000 | $1,250.00 |
| 5B | Less than $50,000 | <3,000 | $900.00 |
| Tier Name | Materials Expenditures | Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment | Proposed Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Greater than $10,000,001 | >30,000 | $63,000.00 |
| 1B | Greater than $10,000,001 | <30,000 | $50,000.00 |
| 2A | $3,000,001 - $10,000,000 | >10,000 | $45,000.00 |
| 2B | $3,000,001 - $10,000,000 | <10,000 | $40,000.00 |
| 3A | $2,000,001 - $3,000,000 | >15,000 | $40,000.00 |
| 3B | $2,000,001 - $3,000,000 | <15,000 | $25,000.00 |
| 4A | $1,000,001 - $2,000,000 | >7,000 | $20,000.00 |
| 4B | $1,000,001 - $2,000,000 | <7,000 | $15,000.00 |
| 5A | $500,001 - $1,000,000 | >2,000 | $11,000.00 |
| 5B | $500,001 - $1,000,000 | <2,000 | $8,000.00 |
| 6A | $300,001 - $500,000 | >3,000 | $7,500.00 |
| 6B | $300,001 - $500,000 | <3,000 | $6,000.00 |
| 7A | $100,001 - $300,000 | >1,500 | $4,500.00 |
| 7B | $100,001 - $300,000 | <1,500 | $3,500.00 |
| 8A | Less than $100,000 | >1,000 | $2,500.00 |
| 8B | Less than $100,000 | <1,000 | $1,500.00 |
| Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment | Proposed Fee |
|---|---|
| 3,001 or greater | $3,500.00 |
| 1,001-3,000 | $2,500.00 |
| 1,000 or fewer | $1,200.00 |
| Library of Clinical Medicine | $2,500.00 |
Proposed Timeline for Adoption
TSLAC plans to amend Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Title 13, Chapter 8 to add the new fee structure and make other administrative updates. Amending the TAC requires many steps over many months. A proposed timeline is outlined below:
Soliciting informal member feedback (late April – early May 2026)
Draft rules reviewed by TexShare Advisory Board (May 2026)
Draft rules reviewed and considered for proposal by Texas State Library and Archives Commission (July 2026)
Proposed rules posted for public comment (August–September 2026)
TSLAC staff make revisions, if needed
Final rules considered for adoption by Texas State Library and Archives Commission (November 2026)
Rule is adopted (November 2026)
Libraries are invoiced for the new fee amount (August 2027 or October 2027)
Overview Sessions
TexShare program staff will go over the changes to the databases fee model and answer your questions in a live webinar. We are offering separate sessions for public libraries and academic/medical libraries; please only register for the session that matches your library type. Each session will cover the same material, so you only need to attend one.
Public Libraries (registration limited to 200 participants each)
Tuesday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, April 22 at 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28 at 3:00 p.m.
Academic/Medical Libraries (registration limited to 100 participants each)
Thursday, April 23 at 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, May 6 at 1:00 p.m.
Share Your Feedback
You can share any feedback on the proposed changes through this linked form. There will be future opportunities to provide feedback as the process progresses.