In reply to Jean Farrington's inquiry regarding possible serial cancellation
projects/target dollar figures:  Our last major serial cancellation project
was done to the tune of approximately $178,000 in August 1987. At that point
in time, most subject bibliographers had to identify a certain percentage
or dollar amount within their collective serial titles/subject funds to
cancel in order to meet the overall cancellation goal. Because cancellation
projects are so far-reaching and entail an incredible amount of advance
planning, a timetable was developed which took into consideration both the
needs of the bibliographers and the Serials Dept., and it worked very well.
We are now gearing up for another cancellation project, but we are approaching
it a bit differently this time. Instead of having to meet a specific or target
dollar figure per se, each bibliographer must make the decision, based on the
overall materials budget situation (we are not getting any additional funds
next fiscal year, but we're expecting an inflation factor of at least 15% for
serials), how many serials they will have to identify for cancellation if they
cannot transfer the necessary money from the monographic side to the serials
side to keep their existing serials afloat next year.  The sci/tech areas will
be the ones hardest hit this time around. We are planning to have a timetable
similar to the one we used during our last cancellation project so that all
titles earmarked for cancellation will be identified to the Serials Dept. by
August 1st. Since bibliographers' decisions will affect firm orders, approval
plans, and serials, several individuals have been involved in the planning &
development of how to deal with the 91/92 FY budget scenario, so please feel
free to contact any one of us with any questions you may have (I realize my
information may not be entirely comprehensible to those of you not familiar
with our local budgetary situation and methodologies...).  And good luck on
meeting your cancellation goal -- it's a tremendous amount of work from any
perspective.

E. Gaele Gillespie/Asst. Head, Serials/University of Kansas Libraries
(913)864-3535   GGILLESP@UKANVM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kent Miller/Head, Serials     Rachel Miller/Head, Acquisitions(913)864-3476
Richard Ring/Collection Development Librarian (913)864-3425