2 messages: 1)---------------------------------- -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Discarding bound journals...-- 5 messages -Reply Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 21:55:41 +0000 From: "Fiona A. McPherson" <Fiona.McPherson@FCT-CF.X400.GC.CA> My 2 cents: What a great list of guidelines! Thanks to everyone. I'll save that. Consider also: 1) Duplication with current online full print databases you have access to and balance the pros and cons of the cost of online retrieval vs storage, 2) Duplication with full print electronic sources on subscription or via CD you have in your collection and whether you are getting those ever helpful archival CD's, 3) Retention policies... which means you make a decision regarding a title once and then implement a procedure whereby books are discarded regularly (works with those computer mags). Here, we do it with Parliamentary Papers, annual reports, newspapers. We buy the current parliament's minutes and proceeding in paper and replace with microfiche once the new parliament is sitting (aka after a federal election). 4) Caution: Before discarding any titles because you can see other libraries are holding them, ensure that those other libraries plan to keep them and haven't put them on the "discard" list as well. Educate yourself on their retention policy if having access to the print of a particular title is important to you. There's nothing worse than discarding and then finding out everyone was relying on your collection to provide the print. This would mean some co-operation between institutions, perhaps locally. (I'm not familiar with your geography.) Make collection development and retention agreements with other libraries which specialize in subject areas you don't and vise versa... promise to keep titles you have and need that they don't have and want access to or that they need on a rare occasion, if for no other reason than to complete both your collections. Another great benefit of resource sharing... and this benefit isn't strictly monetary. 5) Microfiche may be yucky to use, but it gets used a lot when needed. Consider the number of people sitting at those machines. The technology is arguably less prone to the vagaries of time and toys (PC's). 6) Is it only available in print? Can you replace it with electronic (and have archival disks), microfiche, or internet access?.. Is the company willing to sell you an archival disk? You have all made some very good comments. I am keeping them all for the day when I finally have the time to sit down and write a policy on de-selection. Cheers! Fiona A. McPherson Collection Development Librarian Federal Court of Canada Library 2)----------------------------- -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Discarding bound journals...-- Buddy Pennington Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 08:30:49 -0400 From: Kim Laird <klaird@gw.libofmich.lib.mi.us> I write this from the perspective of one who has worked in three or four libraries, where this was discussed. In two cases, older volumes were deaccessioned and/or the collection was weeded. I have collected a lot of information against discarding older journals, particularly if you do not have fiche replacements for them. Statistics show that if the journal is not there, it is not used. The faculty do not always/often go after interlibrary loans for things that are not already on the shelf. As the library's collection changes, so do the faculty member's citations. A stronger way to deal with the situation is to either purchase fiche/film copies of the journals in question, determine whether some journals are outside the scope of your collection, determine whether your automated system can tell you which journals are not being used, etc. The solution of taking out short runs of journals is a possibility, but be careful because sometimes those titles are from title changes. We had one title which changed titles every year to two years, and so whenever someone brought it to me, I always had to explain all the title changes & the fact that this was actually a ten year run, not an incomplete set. The more you can get your faculty involved in the process of weeding (even though it is cumbersome & a lot of work for you) the better of you'll be. They'll be happier about the situation. In one case, we had quite a few volumes taken by the faculty for their departmental libraries. While I wasn't happy to see our stuff leaving the library, I was pleased that the institution was able to use them elsewhere. BTW, from the medical library standpoint, I was interested in hearing what one hospital library said. Keep in mind that many hospital libraries, particularly the smaller ones, often only keep the last five-ten years in the library. She said that there were some journals, where the doctors asked to keep the entire run, including the bone & joint journals. Why? Because there were rare diseases and problems that might only be discussed once in a great while. They needed to have access to anything in that area & most typically needed it right then & there. Well, my two cents.... hope that's helpful input. Kim Laird, Acquisitions, Documents, Serials Team Leader Library of Michigan, PO Box 30007, 717 West Allegan Street, Lansing, MI 48909. 517-373-9438 (Fax) 517-373-5866 (TDD only) klaird@libofmich.lib.mi.us HOURS: 7:30a.m. - 4 p.m.
