Newsletter of the
Melvin J. Zahnow Library
Saginaw Valley State University

Upon the recommendation of the Library Committee, last winter the Library began a comprehensive review of all of its current print journal subscriptions in order to gauge which journals are essential to support the teaching and research needs of our students and faculty, and to identify any candidates for cancellation. Department chairs were sent lists of the current print journal subscriptions in their respective disciplines, which included subscription costs for this year and the past three years. They were asked to share these lists with their faculty members and to come up with a rating for each title based on the consensus of their department. From the outset, faculty input was a critical part of the review process.

Once all of the lists were returned, librarians began the task of evaluating every title identified as a candidate for cancellation by the faculty, including any titles that cost more than $500 per year. They looked carefully at a number of factors, including:

• The number of times the print issues of each title had been used during the fall and winter semesters
• The availability of each title in one or more of our full-text electronic journal databases
• The number of times the online version of each title was used, where that information was available

In the case of a few journals, heavy usage of print issues justified maintaining current print subscriptions to those titles. More frequently, though, the usage statistics showed far greater use of the electronic version of journals for those titles that are available both online and in paper. This led to yet another round of evaluation to determine which print journals could be canceled without losing access to the electronic version.

Underscoring the ever-increasing preference for electronic versus print journals, the Psychology Department specifically asked to cancel all of its print journal subscriptions in exchange for electronic access. Although we were able to do so, no cost savings were achieved in the switch, as all of the dollars spent on the print subscriptions were reallocated to electronic database subscriptions.

When the review process was finally completed, department chairs were sent a list of 113 current print journal titles slated for cancellation. They were asked to review the list one last time and inform us of any titles they wanted us to reconsider. Only one request to reconsider one journal was received. After it was explained that the journal is available online, the request to retain the print subscription was withdrawn.

So, what’s the bottom line? The current print journal review will produce a net cost savings of $21,500 with the cancellation of 113 print subscriptions for 2005. With input from faculty, we’ve been able to identify and eliminate journals that are not essential to the teaching and research needs of our students and faculty. And, wherever possible, we’ve eliminated the duplication of journals in print when the full text is also available in one of our online journal databases. Currently, the Library provides access to 10,500 full-text electronic journal titles.
At this time, the library acquisitions budget for 2004-05 is still uncertain. But with annual inflation in the cost of journals averaging more than 10% in recent years, the cost savings resulting from our print journal review will help minimize the impact of journal price increases on the rest of the acquisitions budget.

My sincere thanks to all of the department chairs and faculty members who took part in the review process and assisted us in making the most effective use of the limited funds we have.

-- Linda Farynk
lfarynk@svsu.edu

Director's Column: Results of the
Print Journal Subscription Review

Library Expands to Accommodate
Online Exams

New Paperbacks Purchased for the
New Cafe Collection

The STC Gets New Coordinator

Roethke Literary Landmark Dedication

New Databases added to Library
Collection

Zahnow Library Liaisons FY2005

Library News

Linda Farynk
Anita Dey
Laura Kinner
Scott Mellendorf
Anne Menard
Tammi Waugh
Thom Zantow

Editors

Anita Dey
Linda Farynk
David Ran