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Date:         Mon, 2 Nov 1992 13:01:20 EST
From: CMCCAWLE%WCU.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu
Subject:      Cooperative Deselection (Genevieve Clay)

      I have only two failed projects to report on. A group of colleges in and
 around Philadelphia met for most of a year in 90-91 to discuss cooperative
 deselection. First it was evident that people didn't want to drop titles based
 on what other people had in their collections. Then as some of us moved into
 our deselection projects, the objections completely reversed themselves. Now
 people didn't want to NOT drop titles they had decided to drop, just because
 it would be the last title in the region.

 Another group that our library was in met twice with the Directors and Serials
 Librarians in attendance. We compiled lists of the most expensive journals at
 each library, but again, could not agree on titles NOT to drop. It seemed that
 every library wanted to retain its autonomy in decision-making and could not
 give up that right to let its decisions about what to dropbe made by the group.

 Christina McCawley
 Serials and Acquisitions Librarian
 West Chester University
 West Chester, PA