Exactly right, imho.

(Though the length of the tolerable delay will vary in different
fields--some small journals especially in the humanities are prepared by
one person, and can easily fall months or years behind and still
recover. But if this happens to a significant science journal, it's the
easiest cancellation decision there is.)

Peter Picerno wrote:
>
> I've always regarded the 'delayed publication' as the precursor to the death
> of a title -- a six month delay merits flagging the title, in my opinion,
> while a one year delay merits an automatic cancellation (do not pass GO do
> not collect my next $200.00). In very practical terms, why continue to
> subscribe to something which doesn't exist or which can't fulfill its
> contract????? If journal editors cannot fulfull their obligations to the
> publishers, then the publisher (who is the boss, after all) has the option,
> if not the obligation, to find an editor who will perform. If the publisher
> cannot fulfill its obligation to its subscribers, then the publisher should
> not expect any further subscription for that title. If the journal and its
> intellectual content can be done without for six months or a year, then how
> important is that title and its content in the grand scheme of things,
> anyway? I really think that a publisher should be obliged to refund the
> pro-rated remainder of a current year's subscription when the title's
> publication is delayed. When the publication is re-instated, then
> subscriptions can be sought anew. (I can hear the click of lighters igniting
> flame-throwers as I write this!).
>
> Peter Picerno
>
> Dr. Peter V. Picerno
> Acquisitions and Serials Librarian
> Nova Southeastern University Libraries
> 3301 College Avenue
> Fort Lauderdale   FL   33314
> (954) 262-4662
> FAX (954) 262-3946
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
> [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU]On Behalf Of Feustel, Carol (FEUSTECS)
> Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 10:25 AM
> To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
> Subject: Re: Publication delayed journals
>
> I've got another journal from a different publisher:
> TOXICOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL HEALTH.
> Arnold / part of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (2001-)
>
> We've paid through v.18 for 2002.  I just received v.17#3 July 10.   There
> was ONE YEAR between the receipt of vol.16 #2 and vol.16#3-5.
>
> They'll want more money for v.19-unless we cancel it.  I tell my account
> reps to warn the publishers that extreme delay may win their journal the
> Cancellation List Award for that year.  I guess most of the publishers don't
> care.
>
> The funniest one was the apology I received from Haworth regarding
> Journal of geriatric drug therapy
>    - which is changing titles to Journal of Aging & Pharmacotherapy.  The
> publisher is trying to "motivate the editor" to complete the next volume!  I
> guess if the editor won't do his/her work the publishers' hands are tied!
> Just don't charge us further, ok?
>
> As John said
> "ANYTHING faintly resembling an opinion is strictly mine and not that of
> the institution or anyone else"
>
>                             One Nation Under God
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>                               Wise People Still Seek Him
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Carol S. Feustel                              phone: 513-558-0179
> Serials Specialist                            fax:      513-558-1709
> Health Sciences Library                   email: carol.feustel@uc.edu
> University of Cincinnati
> MSB R101 Box 670574
> 231 Albert Sabin Way
> Cincinnati, OH  45267-0574
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>            The Original Journal Goddess.  Accept no imitations!!
>                  Opinions expressed are mine, not my employers
>
>                  A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. (Hershy)

--
David Goodman
Research Librarian and
Biological Science Bibliographer
Princeton University Library
Princeton, NJ 08544-0001
phone: 609-258-7785
fax: 609-258-2627
e-mail: dgoodman@princeton.edu