A comparison of costs for computer-based searching of Psychological Abstracts and Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) systems by the New York State Library at Albany was produced by combining data available from search request forms and from bills from the contract subscription service, the State University of New York-Bio-Communication Network (SUNY-BCN). These data were used to compute costs in commercial pricing systems. Charges for peripheral equipment, which are included in the contract fee, were prorated according to the ratio of use of each data base against the total use for all data bases. Estimates were obtained for comparable peripheral equipment, adjusted for percentage of time used, and added to search costs to complete the comparison. Differences in cost and access to the computer were noted, and it was recommended that the New York State Library remain with the SUNY-BCN system and plan also to join the Lockheed DIALOG system for data bases not available from SUNYBCN. A fee schedule that includes a surcharge for development and refinement of search and retrieval procedures also was recommended. (CH)