I have watched this very interesting string of exchanges and, on behalf of JSTOR, would like to offer a couple of comments that I hope will further this discussion: * JSTOR realizes that while some libraries will decide to keep the paper volumes for titles in the JSTOR archives, other libraries may wish to move these volumes to offsite storage or deaccession them in order to provide space for other materials. However, in order to do so, the libraries would like some measure of confidence that it is safe to move these volumes off their shelves and depend on the electronic version. To that end, JSTOR currently has agreements in place with the University of California and Harvard University to archive the paper volumes for the first 353 back runs released by JSTOR, and we are pursuing agreements for all subsequently released titles. These are dark or very dim archives, so, while libraries may not have ready access to these volumes, they can be assured that the paper volumes are safely stored for future use should JSTOR ever need to rescan part or all of the archive. I would not mean to imply, however, that two paper repositories are sufficient. There are a number of initiatives out there directed by other organizations and institutions, and JSTOR believes that these efforts are a necessary part of an overall archival plan for digitized paper content. JSTOR is keenly interested in participating in these discussions and/or helping to facilitate them. * JSTOR is currently in the process of a major retrospective conversion to bring all data up to current specifications. This includes capturing data necessary for reference linking, adding Unicode and corresponding ASCII transliterations, transcribing captions into our metadata, and also rescanning many, many pages containing grayscale or color content. For images scanned prior to 2002, JSTOR displays a black & white page as the primary image with any color and grayscale on that page content captured and accessible via a thumbnail beneath the black and white full page image. Our current specification creates a composite out of black & white, grayscale and color content so that the resulting displayed page image is a much more faithful replication of the paper original. We are also rescanning a number of black & white page images from among the earliest titles that JSTOR digitized. While JSTOR has already begun to release publicly some of the reworked data, we plan to complete this major project by the end of 2007. The end result should be a much cleaner and more faithful replication of the original. In turn, this may alleviate the need to retain paper volumes due to concerns regarding the quality of the JSTOR version, but I fully realize that there are a number of other factors that go into the decision to deaccession, deduplicate and/or to move volumes to offsite storage. If there are questions or concerns about the quality of specific page images or about the quality in general, however, we hope that library staff or patrons will contact JSTOR (support@jstor.org) to alert us. We take these reports seriously and work to make corrections on affected pages, often within 24 hours. John Kiplinger JSTOR Director of Production www.jstor.org -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Latchney, Jim Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 9:57 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR print backfiles Our library went through a similar procedure. Our former Assistant Director for Access and Preservation went through that list of titles and identified volumes from those titles with plates, maps, etc. that either were not digitized well in JSTOR or because they had particularly unique images, etc., the print volume was kept. I have a .doc list of those volumes that were kept if anyone is interested. Jim Latchney Cataloging & Reference Librarian Cataloging and Metadata Services Michigan State University Libraries 100 Library East Lansing, MI 48824-1048 (517) 432-6123 x317 (517) 353-8969 (fax) "...the modern cataloger will one day be a software-enabled specialist who can gather, subset, normalize, and enrich piles of records for a specific audience or purpose."--Roy Tennant, Library Journal, Apr. 15, 2006 -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Tian Zhang Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 9:39 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR print backfiles Last year, I attended the NASIG Annual Conference. At the meeting, a representative from Jstor gave an impressive presentation about Jstor project. According to the presentation, the information I got is that Jstor has very good plans of digitizing all the issues of the titles in its list. From that time on, I realized there is no reason for our library to continue keeping the bind volumes if they are on Jstor. And we stopped binding any more volumes of Jstor titles. All the current issues (about 5 years) will be kept in shelves until they are in Jstor. We did not ask around whether any libraries will need the bind volumes assuming academic libraries all subscribe Jstor. But if the foreign country libraries still accept the bind volumes, please let me know, and we are willing to ship to them. The same situation is with our microfilms and microfiches of Jstor titles. Tian X. Zhang Head of Serials Department St. John's University Library 8000 Utopia Parkway Queens, NY 11439 Tel. 718 990-5082 Fax 718 990-5938 -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Mykie Howard Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 9:03 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR print backfiles How did you find the library in the Middle East, and does anyone know of any other libraries currently willing to pay shipping for free JSTOR titles? Thanks! Mykie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mykie Howard Serials Librarian Morehead State University Camden-Carroll Library 150 University Dr. Morehead, KY 40351 my.howard@moreheadstate.edu ph:606-783-5116 fax:606-783-5037 -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of SUSAN BEIDLER Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 3:10 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR print backfiles Julie, Lycoming College has withdrawn our print volumes that are included in JSTOR. Each spring we pull the volumes that have been added to JSTOR, too. We are a small liberal arts college with no graduate programs. We were early enough in the process that we were able to sell many of them, and another large group of the volumes went to a library in the Middle East that was willing and able to pay for shipping. Hope this helps in your study. If you have further questions, feel free to get back to me. Sue Beidler Head of Collection Management Sue Beidler Snowden Library Lycoming College 700 College Place Williamsport PA 17701 phone: 570-321-4084 fax: 570 321-4090 email: beidler@lycoming.edu >>> Julie Andel <jandel@MAILER.FSU.EDU> 2/14/2007 12:38 PM >>> Hello, I am currently working as a graduate assistant for Millie Jackson, Head of Collection Development at Florida State University, and I am researching information about what other libraries are doing with their JSTOR print collections. Thank you for any information you can provide. Julie Andel Graduate Assistant Collection Development Florida State University Libraries 850-645-2709 jandel@mailer.fsu.edu
