Note though that there can be a huge gap between the faculty perception of "must have" and their actual needs.  Usage data tells us what they actually need. Since balancing the library's budget isn't their problem, faculty will tend to overestimate the importance of journals.  Also different faculty personalities in this regard can skew your cancellation patterns unfairly in favor of certain subject areas.

I just read a very recent study that did a quantitative analysis of faculty perceptions of journal importance compared with various use metrics. I'm sorry I can't find the citation at my finger tips right now, but it validated my practice of basically ignoring faculty perceptions of importance when it contradicts hard evidence of need. 

That said, I agree with others that hard evidence of need shouldn't start and end with COUNTER data but also take into account things like A-Z lookup stats.

We're mostly EBSCO-centered in our finding tools, including our discovery service, so EBSCO's non-COUNTER stats on abstract views are golden to us in the cancellation process.

Melissa

On Fri, Jul 7, 2017 at 10:43 AM, Judith Koveleskie <kovelesk@setonhill.edu> wrote:

We look at cost per download, but we also consider faculty input.   There are certain journals that they tell us we must keep for the major.  In a few cases these journals a seldom used, but we have not been able to drop them because they are considered to be "must haves".

Judith A. Koveleskie, Serials Librarian
Seton Hill University, Reeves Memorial Library
1 Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601-1548
724-838-7828
This document may contain confidential information and is intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you received it in error, please  contact the sender at once and destroy the document. The document may contain information subject to restrictions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Acts. Such information may not be disclosed or used in any fashion outside the scope of the service for which you are receiving the information.

 

 

On Fri, Jul 7, 2017 at 8:52 AM, Ken Siegert <ken.siegert@fandm.edu> wrote:

Hello!

We are planning to review both our print and electronic journals. Right now we are collecting usage stats for the last 3 complete calendar years (2014, 2015, 2016) and trying to stick to just JR1 reports. We have individually subscribed journals, packaged journals, etc. Most titles are divided up by librarian liaison area.

What factors have others looked at in determining if a subscription should continue? What's your process? Any insights are welcome.

Thanks,

Ken

-------------

Ken Siegert
E-Resources, Serials & Metadata Specialist
Shadek-Fackenthal Library, Room 011
ken.siegert@fandm.edu | 717-358-4219

Franklin & Marshall College
Shadek-Fackenthal Library
P.O. Box 3003
Lancaster, PA 17604-3003

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