We have experienced similar problems and have also requested that we be alerted when titles are removed from a tracked resource. We run a Data on Demand report once a month and archive the file so I have a record of tracked resources at a given point in time. This enables me to verify that at some point we did have a title activated and it isn’t just me imagining we had it. I was advised to subscribe to the KnowledgeWorks Summary of Provider and Database Changes (which I already did) but they seemed to miss the point that this alert does not advise us of the changes that are described in this email. My concern is the same as expressed by Steve and that is “What other titles are missing that we are not aware of”. I appreciate that updates are provided by the publishers but there does need to be some improved quality control measures put in place as we all know that the publishers don’t always have very accurate lists either.

Regards

Chris Gordon

Christine Gordon | Serials Librarian

Information Resources
Library & Information Services
Eddie Koiki Mabo Library

James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811

E: Christine.Gordon@jcu.edu.au
P: +61 7 4781 6753
F: +61 7 4781 6099

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of LUISA Porretta [Staff]
Sent: Wednesday, 31 July 2013 4:29 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Serials Solutions Problem with Vanishing Titles

This has happened numerous times, and our concerns mirror your own. I have complained about this to Serials Solutions, but the problem hasn't been resolved. Here's a response from 2011:

Regarding notification when holdings are removed or changed, we do have an open enhancement request with our developers requesting this feature in a future version of our software. I can definitely understand how this information would prove useful, and apologize for any inconvenience this can cause. I will add your example to our open enhancement request...

~~~

Luisa M. Porretta | Electronic & Continuing Resources Librarian

PH: 1-718-817-3583 | FX: 1-718-817-3530 | porretta@fordham.edu

Fordham University Library
Serials & E-Resources Dept., Rm. 034
441 East Fordham Road
Bronx, NY 10458

On Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 11:14 AM, Steven Brown <swb105@gwu.edu> wrote:

This morning, I received two complaints in an hour about titles that we recently had active in Serials Solutions, but have since been removed from the linked database without us knowing. This problem arises numerous times throughout the year. Today's problem titles...

As of 5/2/2013 (we ran a Tracked Resource report that day), we had AJR: American Journal of Roentgenology active through Highwire. Today we discovered that the title does not show up on our E-Journals page because Highwire is no longer an option for the title.

As of a 6/28/2013 Tracked Resources report, we had Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery active through Edizioni Minerva Medica. Same thing here.

Is anyone else frustrated with the lack of a Serials Solutions automated alert for titles that are removed from an active database? I can't react to the problem if I don't know the title has been removed. In the case of AJR, the title has been missing from our E-Journals page for over a month and we weren't aware of it until today. There may be other now missing titles that we're not aware of. I have made this enhancement request on numerous occasions, but have gotten nowhere. Is anyone else requesting this enhancement? How have other libraries reacted to this problem? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Steve

Steven W. Brown

Serials and Systems Librarian

Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

2300 Eye Street, NW

Washington, DC 20037

P: 202-994-9756

F: 202-994-4343

swb105@gwu.edu

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