From: canevari_at_sklib.usask.ca
SERIALS CANCELLATION PROJECTS
The question of recent serials cancellation projects in academic
libraries was posed on both COLDEV-L and COLLDV-L in early February
by the University of Saskatchewan Libraries as we embark upon a
CDN$920,000 cancellation project. This informal survey initially
elicited a total of ten responses: four Canadian and six American.
These responses also led to information on a further half dozen
institutions recently or currently involved in serials cancellation
projects.
The dollar amounts of those cancellation projects ranged from
approximately CDN$400,000 to CDN$1,000,000. Various percentages of
the serials budget were cancelled ranging from 5% to 30% Some
university libraries have been engaged in serials cancellation
projects annually for that past several years. Others have had an
average of two major projects within the last 6 years. Most who
have not had annual cancellations noted that they had waited too
long between projects.
The following web sites, which were located either directly from
information provided by the respondents or through links, provide
valuable background information in addition to actual titles
cancelled:
--Univ. of Oregon Serials Cancellation Project.
http://libweb.uoregon.edu/colldev/serialcn.html
--UW [Univ. of Washington] Libraries Cut Serials.
http://www.lib.washington.edu/libinfo/jourupd.html
--MIT Libraries 1995/96 Serial Review and Cancellation Project.
http://macfadden.mit.edu:9500/sercan/top.html
--[Univ. of Minnesota Science & Engineering Library] Journals
Crisis
http://sciweb.lib.umn.edu/e&e/issues/crisis.htm
The following informative article was also noted by its author:
--Metz, Paul. "Thirteen steps to avoiding bad luck in a
serials cancellation project," in _Journal of Academic
Librarianship_. 18:76-82 (May 1992).
Finally, none of those who responded simply called their project
one of review. Cancellations are cancellations. The University of
Saskatchewan Libraries began be considering a soft approach, but
quickly discounted that. The project was announced to the campus
on the front page of the faculty and staff fortnightly newspaper
with the headline: "Libraries begin $920,000 Serials Cancellation
Project."
Our Serials Cancellation Project web site is in progress. The
address will be posted when it is available.
Thank you to all who responded. Further advice, information and
comments will continue to be appreciated.
Donna Canevari de Paredes
Collections Librarian
University of Saskatchewan Libraries
3 Campus Dive
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A4
tel.: (306) 966-5970
fax.: (306) 966-6040
Received on Tue Mar 18 1997 - 16:42:05 EST