In response to this question:
> From: "Holle Schneider" <HSCHNEIDER_at_gw.uscs.edu>
>
> Our library has recently been asked for the number of journals we subscribe
> to. This used to be easy when all our journals were print. Now that we provide
> access to electronic journals as well as various databases that provide full
> text access for some, but not all of the titles they cover, it is becoming
> impossible to answer this question, particularly since there is also a huge
> overlap between various vendors. How have other libraries dealt with this
> problem?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Holle E. Schneider-Ricks
> Assistant Library Director
> USC Spartanburg Library
...these answers:
#1
From: "Bill Sees" <cd000019_at_mindspring.com>
Hello Holle,
Many libraries have created databases that store information about
full text article availability in their journal databases and online
journals. Information stored in these databases can be accessed via
the Web. For an example of such an application that I created using
MySQL and PHP3, please see the following URL:
http://www.udayton.edu/~library/journals
Although this application was created primarily to help researchers
identify full text resources,it obviously can be used for collection
development purposes as well.
Some libraries are using the Jake database, and linking information
from Jake to their own content information. This is probably a better
long range solution because keeping up with the constant changes in
titles and coverage in the various journal database aggregators and
publisher is an impossibly difficult task, and lends itself to a
cooperative effort.
Please feel free to contact me if you need more details.
Bill Sees
Access Services Librarian
University of Dayton
william.sees_at_notes.udayton.edu
bill.sees_at_mindspring.com
=======================
#2
From: "Pat Morris" <pmorris_at_uu.edu>
You are right, it is almost impossible to tell how many journals a library
makes available to its users. I was receiving requests for reports, so here
is what I did.
I have just finished a spreadsheet where I began listing the titles to
which we currently subscribed in print and microfiche. Then I created
a column for each database, adding new titles to the list and marking
the database column. It took about 3 months to do as I sandwiched
this in between other duties. Of course, by the time I finished it,
it was already out of date, but this is the first time we have had
any kind of count of journal titles since the acquiring full-text
databases. We are a small library with only a few full-text databases
and it still took months. Surely there has to be a better way.
Patricia H. Morris
Collection Development Librarian
Union University
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
pmorris_at_uu.edu
901-661-5426
=====================
#3
From:
Madeleine Lefebvre <madeleine.lefebvre_at_STMARYS.CA>
As a way of tempering the outcry when we were forced to cut a
substantial number of paper subscriptions, we compiled a master
list of periodical titles, including all those we could access
electronically. We specified full or partial text, and
whether they were available from the library only, anywhere
on campus, off-campus, or one of the other libraries in the
Novanet consortium. It was a lot of work, and a big list.
Of course, it was out of date very quickly, but I consider it was well
worth the effort during the crunch time. I was able to send it to
Deans and Chairs to put our paper cancellations in a wider context,
and to show faculty that there were alternatives.
Madeleine Lefebvre
======================
#4
From: H. Robert Malinowsky <hrm_at_uic.edu>
Yes, counting journal titles that one subscribes to has become quite
difficult. At UIC we count the paper subscriptions. Then, we count the
full text electronic-journal subscriptions as a separate category. They
are two separate categories and, obviously, the majority in the electronic
are in the paper. We do not count those titles that have full text
articles in the databases. Our reasoning is that in most cases you can
get to the articles only through key-word or subject searching and not by
browsing the table of contents of the journal.
H. Robert Malinowsky
Professor and Manager of
Collections Development and Reference
University of Illinois at Chicago Library
Received on Fri Feb 09 2001 - 12:34:45 EST