How to assemble all the ITSM reference library you need for $211

[Updated 8th June 2009] With seemingly everyone gouging the ITIL user these days, is there an alternative for those of us who can't just (or just can't) get the boss to pay the exorbitant prices? You bet.

For those of you out there who are a bit cash strapped like me, here is the formula for building a formidable body of low-cost knowledge:

• download COBIT. While you are there get Val IT too. Both free
• Join ISACA and start downloading dozens of content-rich books and papers. US $130.00 for membership. If you download the following books (as well as COBIT itself and ValIT) you'll have an awesome body of knowledge that I think rivals ITIL:
  • COBIT Control Practices
  • IT Assurance Guide
  • IT Governance Implementation Guide
  • COBIT User Guide for Service Managers

  (Must confess I bought mine because they come in a nice spiral-bound cover for frequent use. But the downloads do print OK especially if your printer does "booklet" format for convenient portable reference)

• If you don't have $130, then go to the ISACA site anyway. They give away bucket-loads of free IP. (Don't waste your time on the itSMF site or APMG's "ITIL Official Site" or OGC's hilariously named "Knowledge Centre" - they give away SFA)
• download MOF. Free
• buy the cumbersomely-named IT Service Management - An Introduction based on ISO 20000 and ITIL V3 from itSMF's ITSM Library and you will have the whole of ISO20000, pretty much, plus gobs of ITIL, for much less than the price of the actual standard. $81 on Amazon
• Download itSMF's "Littler ITIL" book An Introductory Overview of ITIL® V3 so you can talk the ITIL talk. Free
• Use Google search for those rare occasions when you need to look up or quote something specific from the "holy books" of ITIL

Total cost $211 for an awesome body of knowledge spanning ITIL, COBIT, ISO20000 and MOF - all that you need to work or consult in the ITSM industry.

Any other tips from readers?
[More good suggestions in the comments below...]

Note: these links were current as of June 2009 - check for new versions.