-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Printed Periodical Indexes
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 14:25:41 -0500
From: "John D. Crissinger"

    We cancel paper indexes as soon after subscribing to an online index
as possible. Finally got Psych Abstr. out last year. We now have only
one or two of the little indexes left, all the major ones are covered
online. We have also relocated most of the paper indexes to the remote
part of the library (back wall) rather than clutter up the reference
area. We still keep the cancelled newspaper indexes, Book Review Index
and Readers Guide in reference (newspapers because they are difficult to
use, BRI because we have a major book review assignment and Readers
Guide because it provides a timeline for reference when trying to find
info on certain events). We will totally withdraw the indexes when we
run out of space, just haven't quite gotten there yet. We observed
virtually all students search with the online indexes or ask us for
help, almost never did we see them use the paper indexes. Good luck,
cancelling will not be a 100% popular decision, believe me!....John
------------------

>Hi, > >Our College is a two-year community college with a
>small library budget. Currently we subscribe to the online
>periodical databases EBSCOHost (indexes and some full text).
>We are considering to cancel subscriptions to the
>printed periodical indexes to save about $2000.00 since
>they are used infrequently. Is it too drastic? Has your
>library already taken the printed periodical indexes out
>of the collection? Do you have any opinions or thoughts
>regarding this matter?
> >By the way, do you consider printed periodical indexes as
>part of the periodical collection, or part of the reference
>collection when you do the collection statistics?
> >Thanks > >Pauline Smith

************************** * JOHN D. CRISSINGER * NEWARK CAMPUS LIBRARY
* Tele: 740-366-9306 OSU-N/COTC * Fax: 740-366-9264 1179 UNIVERSITY DR.
* email: crissinger.5@osu.edu NEWARK, OH 43055 * *
**************************
"Geographers never get lost, they are only exploring unfamiliar places!"