On 3/30/2011 10:13 AM, Rick Anderson wrote:
> In this context, I should probably clarify my earlier input: I can't imagine
> that a _wholesale_ return to print is even remotely possible for any
> research library.  And I'm not sure it's fair to characterize our students
> and faculty as "spoiled"; I think I'd say that they've come to have
> perfectly reasonable access expectations given the current information
> environment.  But just because their expectations are reasonable doesn't
> mean that they can always be met; the combination of budget cuts and price
> increases (sometimes massive ones) means that in some cases, we're going to
> have to sacrifice good service (i.e. online access) in order to preserve a
> basic level of access to core resources.  But realistically, I think that's
> only going to happen on a title-by-title basis, not wholesale.
>
I agree, Rick, and increasingly, some journals are not even available in
print format.  We noticed that when went to do our renewals last fall.
Several journals went from being available in a few different formats to
online only.  We have definitely gone more online with some titles and
subjects that we used to be and this has helped with our space problems
some.  Online access has helped some with providing increased access for
programs where classes are partially or totally online and students
rarely come to campus.  I hope we do not have to sacrifice any titles in
any format, but access in any format is better than none at all.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

--
Barbara M. Pope, MALS
Periodicals/Reference Librarian
Axe Library
Pittsburg State University
1701 S. Broadway
Pittsburg KS 66762
620-235-4884
bpope@pittstate.edu

"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will
get you through times of no libraries." Anne Herbert, The Whole Earth
Catalog