FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toss Your Old Print Journals?

A new report from Ithaka S+R examines when libraries can rely on digitized
journals and responsibly save shelf space by withdrawing print collections

New York, NY September 29 - As large-scale digitization efforts ensue, how do
libraries determine when to retain print collections?  What to Withdraw: Print
Collections Management in the Wake of Digitization
<http://www.ithaka.org/ithaka-s-r/research/what-to-withdraw> , a new
report released today from Ithaka S+R, the strategy and research arm of the
not-for-profit organization ITHAKA (www.ithaka.org), analyzes which types of
journals can be withdrawn responsibly today and how that set of materials
can be expanded to allow libraries the maximum possible flexibility and savings
in the future.

"Determining the value of retaining print after its digitization requires a system-
wide analysis of the needs of all libraries and their users collectively, rather
than focusing only on a region, a system, or a consortium," stated Roger
Schonfeld, Manager of Research at Ithaka S+R and co-author of this
report.  "Our analysis indicates that libraries today can safely de-accession
certain print holdings that are adequately preserved in digital and print form
elsewhere."

Analyzing the rationales for retaining and preserving scholarly journals in print
format, the report proposes minimum time periods for which some system-wide
access to print versions is required. Then, based on a study commissioned by
Ithaka S+R and conducted by Candace Yano, a professor of industrial
engineering and operations research and in the Haas School of Business at UC
Berkley, the report proposes the minimum number of print copies that are
required today depending on their condition.

Based on this analysis, the report concludes that certain print journal backfile
sets are well enough digitized and contain few enough images that there is
likely to be virtually no demand for them by users, and are sufficiently well
preserved digitally and in print repositories that libraries can responsibly
withdraw their own print holdings.

At the same time, the report warns that other print materials may not yet be
ready for broad withdrawal without raising risks unduly. For these materials, a
number of strategies are recommended for allowing libraries increased flexibility
in the future. First, organizations responsible for digitization programs should
provide more transparency on the quality of their digitization work and should
participate in an ongoing effort to upgrade the quality of the scans. In
addition, libraries should deepen existing collaborations around print
preservation, perhaps bringing in publishers and other digitizers as partners in
this effort.

"Libraries are right to push aggressively into the digital future but should do so
with an awareness about risk and tradeoffs,"
stated Ross Housewright, analyst and co-author.  "There is an opportunity
before us to make a system-wide impact on print collection management, but
in order to do so libraries and digitizers need to commit to collaboration at a
level unseen today."

Ithaka S+R
Ithaka S+R (www.ithaka.org/ithaka-s-r) is the strategy and research arm of
ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping the academic
community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to
advance research and teaching in sustainable ways. The Ithaka S+R team
supports innovation in higher education by working with initiatives and
organizations to develop sustainable business models and by conducting
research and analysis on the impact of digital media on the academic
community as a whole. Insights from these efforts are shared broadly, with
more than a dozen reports freely available online. JSTOR, an accessible
archive of more than 1,000 scholarly journals and other content, and Portico,
a service that preserves content published in electronic form for future
generations, are also part of ITHAKA.

Contact:
Heidi McGregor
VP Marketing & Communications
ITHAKA
heidi.mcgregor@ithaka.org