THIS IS a numbers question from a non-numbers person.  I have just
been struggling to apply an allocation formula to show our academic
departments what they *would* be able to spend on serials if they
towed the line.  What happens is, two departments grossly overspend
with the result that the others don't get to spend anything like
as much as the formula would entitle them to.
        But there's a trap here.  I'm applying the formula to the
de facto amount they spend already, and that in itself could be way
too much.  Taking reference, general and library science journals into
account (and that includes RLIN and Bibliofile subscriptions which we
need to do our work) we spend 66% of our total acquisitions budget on
subscriptions.  I believe that's not so unusual - but *is* it
appropriate for a library which doesn't support PhD programs?
        We have 3,600 undergraduates and 600 Master's Degree
students.
        Can anyone from a similar university (or at least a
university with Masters' but no PhD students) tell me what percentage
of their acquisitions budget they spend on subscriptions?  I'd be
very grateful.

        Lesley Tweddle, Head, Serials Unit, American University
        in Cairo <LTWEDDLE@ACS.AUC.EUN.EG>