Subj:   Okerson request for input

In response to this query, my first step would be to contact the
department via the liaison, to see if the materials are still a number 1
priority for the library.  If they are not a number one priority, I would
recommend cancelling the title(s) in light of current budget situation.

If the item is a number 1 priority, but the increase is more than 10% or
$100., the item has to be approved also by the collection development
committee for our library.  Here it is put into priority with all other
serial requests for the university.

I personally feel that librarians need to band together in order to
make publishers more responsive to our problems.  If the library did
subscribe to one comprehensive journal, and now decides to switch to
8 specialty journals, increased staff time and money is required for
cataloging, binding, check in, shelving and public service.  This reason
alone can be enough to encourage cancellation of the entire set due to
current hiring freezes and reduction in library hours.

CD roms are a good way to go, but they also cause problems.  Libraries
have limited money to purchase players.  Some libraries need to upgrade
electrical wiring in order to offer these services. (we currently had to
have more outlets and reinforced wiring installed at a hefty price) Also,
puts additional burdens on the staff having to service CD roms.
Currently, all CD roms do not use the same function keys in the same
way.  We have provided user guides, but it is still very labor intensive,
verses the use of printed periodical issues.

In regards to the specific questions:
 C.) I definately would not recommend to purchase both!

A.) Depending upon what the liaison, department and collection development,
    I might support the purchase of SOME of the specialty journals.

B.) The CD rom purchase would be a consideration, but price and liason,
department and collection development imput must also be possitive.

In these days of salami publishing, I really wish more publishers would
stop slicing up journals.

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Linda M. Golian
Serials Librarian
Florida Atlantic University Libraries
P.O. Box 3092
Boca Raton, Fl  33431

AT&T:  (407) 367-3768
Bitnet:  GOLIAN@FAUVAX.BITNET
Internet:  GOLIAN@ACC.FAU.EDU

Opinions expressed are strictly my own and do not reflect any one else's

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