If this is the first time you are making such reductions you have a few
options.

1.  Take a hard look at your title list and cut journals that do not
directly support your institution's curriculum.

2.  Also, see if you are receiving titles which are not indexed.  These
titles are usually excellent targets.

3.  Definitely take a look at titles you are receiving online via
ProQuest, EscoHost, etc.  Yes, it is possible that certain titles might be
withdrawn from these services, but in most cases, I believe, they will
become available online from some other vendor;

4.  If you buy microfilm for certain titles, check them and see if you
think you can cancel the paper and wait for the microfilm;

5.  By all means, if you have the time, survey the faculty.  But don't
just send a list and ask if any titles can be canceled.  From my
experience, three unhelpful things happen with this method. (1) The
faculty simply say that all of the titles look good and that none can be
spared; (2) One faculty member may be very willing to cancel titles of use
to another faculty member; (3) They notice that you do not subscribe to
five titles which are essential to them (but which they somehow never
tried to use before at the library), and thus increase your financial
problems.

 Instead, send each department a list of its titles and ask that
individual faculty members rate each title as to how valuable it is to
his/her own research and teaching.  I would use the following scale--
important, moderately useful, do not use, no opinion.  If one may judge
from my experience, you will then have to wait a month or two for the
replies to come in.  It will be helpful to designate a reasonable date at
which time responses are due.  When the responses come in, make a list for
each department of titles which do not seem to be used or about which
people have no opinion.  Send each list back to the appropriate department
chair with a note saying that there does not seem to be much interest in
the titles listed--can they be canceled?  This method does take time.
One more thing, you will probably have departments that do not respond. In
these cases, have librarians with expertise in these areas do the cuts.

        William Keogan <keoganw@STJOHNS.EDU>