I have no public library experience so my opinion comes exclusively from an academic background but I'll echo this. Publishers need to match what libraries need. The more libraries that cancel when publishers go digital, the more likely when they do go digital they'll offer IP authentication. That is in large part the reasoning behind our policy to cancel or not add in the first place anything that doesn't off IP authentication.
 

Michael Lampley

Serials Librarian

Texas Christian University

TCU Box 2984000

2913 West Lowden St.

Fort Worth, TX 76129

m.lampley@tcu.edu



On Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 8:42 AM, BLACK, STEVE <BLACKS@mail.strose.edu> wrote:

Just an opinion--

 

If they don’t allow IP authentication, treat it as a ceased title, and get something else instead. Passwords or dedicated computers are too much hassle, there are almost always other decent magazines (or web sites) in the same topic area, and the magazine’s content may be in one of your full-text databases.

 

Many publishers of craft and other sorts of magazines offer essentially the same content as books or on discs. Consider shifting the little bit of money spent on the titles that go online-only into books or DVDs.

 

I didn’t bother even trying to get patron access from the publisher to the new online-only weekly version of U.S. News & World Report. We rely on an EBSCO database for access to it, and added the new weekly version of the Christian Science Monitor to take its place on the shelf.

 

Steve Black

Reference, Serials, and Instruction Librarian

Neil Hellman Library

The College of Saint Rose

392 Western Ave.

Albany, NY 12203

(518) 458-5494

blacks@strose.edu

 

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Dieden, Cynthia
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 5:50 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Popular magazines going digital advice

 

Hello-

I work at a public library and with the economic downturn, we've been noticing a lot of magazines (general interest, parenting, crafts etc - the kind public libraries often have) are starting to offer their magazine in digital format only.  At one time, the digital only titles tended to be scholarly or highly niche oriented, but now PC Magazine, Disney's Family Fun and others are going that route so we are facing this issue   Usually, the publishers will offer one log in per subscription so we are left with some concerns.  Do we keep receiving it, do we offer access and, if so, how do we offer access?   

 

I'm wondering how other libraries are handling this or have handled it.  No longer offering the magazine? Setting up accounts for popular magazines and having staff interation for passwords and user names? Setting up a special station?  Any thoughts, advice, ideas or innovations are welcome.  Thanks!

 

Cynthia Dieden

Collection Specialist Librarian/Periodicals Supervisor

Mount Prospect Public Library