---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 12:47:53 -0400
From: Steve Black <blacks@MAIL.STROSE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Cancellation of print journals (JoAnne Griffin)

We went through a process of defining our core collection, and our plan is
to keep the core in print whether the titles are available electronically or
not.  Many titles in aggregate packages (EBSCOhost, ProQuest, et al.) are,
in our view, core journals.  We haven't cancelled them, and we hope not to.
We want to keep a current, browsable print collection of the most essential
titles in the fields taught here, not only for archival permanence, but also
for the unique features of a print collection.  I may change my mind in 10
years, but I think print journals will always be the best way to get an
overview of what's being written in a field, and there are opportunities for
serendipitous finds that you don't have online (at least not in the same
way).

In any case, we plan to have a high quality print journal collection, no
matter what happens with e-journals.  It may be small by today's standards,
but it should reflect the best stuff available.  So to me, the question is
"Which print journals are worth keeping forever?"  Let the cancellation
decisions come *after* you answer that.

We have had very few complaints about the cancellations we have done, but I
don't think enough time has passed to draw any conclusions from that.

Steve Black
Reference,Instruction, and Serials Librarian
Neil Hellman Library
The College of Saint Rose
392 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203

blacks@mail.strose.edu
(518) 458-5494