Wing,

In our library,  each resource type has its own budget:  e-journals,
e-books, databases, print journals, print monographs, audio-visual,
etc., I don't use a percentage guideline for spending by
subject/discipline within the e-journals budget, but there are other
factors I consider during renewal periods.

I review COUNTER reports of full-text article requests usage (JR1
reports) when renewals are due, to see what subject specialties are most
popular for that collection, and then again at the end of the year.  The
volume of research being done in a particular subject specialty, along
with the number of articles being published by our local authors in
particular journals, are other considerations I look at when determining
which subject areas might warrant more of the budget that is available
for that fiscal year.

Joanne

Joanne V. Romano, MLS
Serials and Electronic Resources Librarian
Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library
1133 John Freeman Blvd.
Houston, TX  77030
713-799-7144
fx:   713-799-7180
joanne.romano@exch.library.tmc.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Wing Woo
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 8:32 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Percentage guidelines on serials and e-resources
spending

Dear all,

I am writing to seek your advise if your Library has set any percentage
guideline of serials (including e-journals) and e-resources (excluding
e-journals and ebooks) spending over the total library materials budget.

I have checked a number of updated sources, such as ARL Statistics and
SCONUL Annual Library Statistics (UK) but their definitions on reporting
e-resources expenditure are different. ARL includes e-journals in
e-resources but not SCONUL. On the other hand, e-book spending is
counted in SCONUL but not in ARL survey. I also conduct literature
searches and google the web but unfortunately can't find much
information pertaining to my question.

So I would like to know if your Library has already established any
guidelines or policy in the percentage of serials and e-resource
spending so as to secure a certain amount of fund for monographs and
other library materials. Moreover, will the serials ceiling vary by
subject/discipline? For example, we allow Science Faculty to spend up to
75%, and Arts and Humanities at 40% the most.

Wing Woo
Acquisitions Librarian
Hong Kong Baptist University Library