Vol. 4, no. 1 — September 1997
Don't Shelve That Journal. . .
by Geri Laudati
Although music has not experienced the dramatic price increases visited upon science journals, we continue to study journal use with the intent of developing and maintaining a collection that is relevant to our programs of study. We must examine the continuation of titles that receive little or no use, particularly when newer titles are requested. Towards this end, we have been recording uses of current journal issues over the past two years.
By counting individual titles of journals left on reading room tables, we, along with all GLS Libraries, receive statistical reports that divide the annual subscription price by the number of uses for each journal title currently received. Heavily used titles have costs per use in the range of $ .12 to $3.90. Other journals show costs per use in the $30-$200 range. Although we consider the lapse in time between the publication of issues and their appearance in music indexing sources, it is these latter titles we must consider for cancellation.
Cost per use is only one criterion for cancellation consideration, however. Others include which, if any, CIC libraries hold the title, and whether individual articles are available through document delivery sources such as UnCover or First Search. We will also cooperate with the University of Minnesota to study journals and monographic series with the intent of sharing subscriptions to little-used materials. In addition, titles recommended for cancellation will be distributed to the Music Library Committee and School of Music faculty before any action is taken.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Geri Laudati at 263-1884.
Articles In This Issue
Streaming Audio by Geri Laudati | A New Index to Music Journals | Don't Shelve That Journal . . . by Geri Laudati | MadCat Searching for Dummies by Mark Rosa | Workshops on Music Library Resources | Recent Donors | Sowerby, Gottschalk Compositions Arrive in Donations by Steve Kurr | Recent Faculty Publications | Where Have the New Books Gone? by Mark Rosa | Mills Music Library Hours