A mechanism is provided whereby individuals who wish to make instructional systems--for example, manuals or papers--available to others may examine in advance the cost factors involved in such an effort. The analysis conducted outlines detailed procedures for scrutinizing total costs, both for reproduction and distribution. The total for the former is comprised of the sum of the costs of: Xeroxing, paper, other supplies, labor, and collating; that for the latter is a function of the costs of accounting, packaging, postage, and handling. Use of the method makes it possible to determine whether it is economically feasible to make available a particular item. (Author/BP)