Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 22:01:41 -0700
From: Leigh <lkennis@QADAS.COM>
Subject: Re: cost analysis: binding vs. microform

Hi!

Currently I am a student in the Emporia in the Rockies MLS program and
the class I am taking is collection development.  Our textbook is great,
and it devotes a whole chapter to serials (Chpt. 7).  In that chapter,
it gives lots of great advice re: serials--such as the one you've
posted.  The book is: Developing Library and Information Center
Collections (3rd edition) by G. Edward Evans.  It is published by
Libraries Unlimited, Englewood, CO (1995).

As far as your query, Evans states that much depends upon the space
limitations your library has, and that microform (in the long run) takes
less space, but weighs more (mainly due to the metal cabinets they are
stored in) and is more costly (i.e., upkeep of the viewer machines,
maintaining the subscribtion in microform format).  However, on the plus
side of microform, it is harder to "rip-out" pages and one doesn't have
those missing issues to replace (either because of age, loss, misuse).
On the positive side for binding the journals, you could look into the
price of collapsible shelving. However, old journals get moldy and
brittle as they age. The impression I get from Evans is that if
possible, and if you've the money to maintain it, go with microform.

Additionally, I have found several articles that discuss your concern,
many good ones I've come across are in two journals: _Serials Review_
and _The Serials Librarian_.  Anyway, I hope this information helps you!
 Good luck!
Leigh Ann Kennison  p.s.  I was wondering, how do you handle the rising
costs of scholarly journal subscriptions, when more and more libraries
are having to cut budgets?

Wen, Shixing wrote:
>
> We are trying to compare the cost of maintaining print journals vs. that of
> microform subscription. Obviously, the figure of the latter is much easier
> to find out. But for the former, there are too many factors to consider,
> like shelving space cost, preservation cost, stack maintenance, shelving,
> and even air conditioning cost per cubic foot, in addition to binding cost.
>
> Could you give us some advice as how to do such a cost analysis? Or could
> you refer us to some case studies in library literature?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
> Shixing Wen
> Florida Gulf Coast University
> <swen@FGCU.EDU>