The original question and response from Susan Mueller <mueller_at_selway.umt.edu>
From: Nan Butkovich <njb_at_psulias.psu.edu>
I am on a committee that is looking at format duplication and the retention
of duplicate materials. We are particularly interested in what libraries
are doing regarding the following areas:
1. subscriptions to both print and electronic versions of the same
publications (indexing and abstracting services, journals, etc.),
As much as possible we don't duplicate. Sometimes, though, the best
deal is made and that requires retention of the paper copy.
2. retention of print and microform versions,
We have discarded the print copy of many journals we receive in microform
for many years. We retain a subscription to both, but discard the paper
upon receipt of the microform.
3. retention of multiple copies of print resources (especially if one or
more copies are held in a remote storage facility rather than in the active
collections),
If it wasn't practical to route the last edition after receiving the current
edition, we would subscribe to more than one copy. It depended on its use,
but often the additional copies were either routed to other locations after
the first year or discarded.
4. duplication of copies at different locations (branch libraries, remote
campuses, etc.)
Our policy is not to have duplicate copies at one location unless
exceptional use demanded it.
I would appreciate your comments regarding your experiences with these or
any other relevant forms of duplication.
These policies are hashed out with our Collection Development committee.
Susan Mueller e-mail: mueller_at_selway.umt.edu
Director of Technical Services phone: 406-243-4558
The University of Montana fax: 406-243-2060
Mansfield Library (MMLA01)
32 Campus Drive #9936
Missoula, MT 59812-9936
Received on Tue Oct 16 2001 - 12:17:57 EDT