>From "Franco, Adrienne" <AFranco_at_iona.edu>
Subject: Guidelines for Weeding Reference Titles (or serial /
monograph titles) When Available Electronically
We have some print serial titles in Reference which are now available
electronically. I was wondering what guidelines or recommendations
you have concerning discarding print volumes.
For example, we have print volumes of Contemporary Literary Criticism
and Contemporary Authors (original series and new revision series).
These publications are available in the Literature Resource Center
(except for full content of CLC volumes 1-94). In fact, because of
this, we cancelled our print standing orders for these two titles back
in 2000, so we have no current content for the past 6 years, relying
fully on LRC database.
These print volumes take up a great deal of shelf space and it would
be helpful to discard these print volumes. We don't have storage
either on campus or off-campus facility. However, I have concerns
about this. Our guidelines for discarding print periodicals (not
serials) available electronically are that they must be available in
at least two different databases from two different vendors. The
reason for this policy was to minimize risk if one vendor should
decide (or be compelled to) drop the title. We don't have a policy
for print serials (non-periodicals) or monographs available
electronically.
However, since LRC is produced by same company as the print volumes,
there seems less risk of losing access i.e. they won't withdraw
permission for electronic access since it is their product. Other
factors could come in to play such as budget (if cost rises beyond our
means) or if they decide to be selective in their online coverage.
Anyway ... what criteria do libraries use when deciding whether or
not to discard print volumes when electronic access for the
publication is available. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Adrienne Franco / Iona College / New Rochelle, NY 10801 (914) 633-
2348 afranco_at_iona.edu
Received on Mon Aug 28 2006 - 01:16:51 EDT