Print Magazines for American College Libraries

Abstract

This paper opens discussion about the periodicals that are left behind in the debate over the transition from print to electronic journals in academic libraries, particularly college libraries. The author annotates 100 English-language print magazines titles that support a liberal arts curriculum and the leisure reading of an American college community. These titles should be maintained in print versions for browsing and usefulness, even if online availability exists. Magazines, with their mix of articles, illustrations, sidebars, tables, charts, graphs, lists, and short features, still have an important place in college libraries.     

License Mapping for ERM Systems: Existing Practices and Initiatives for Support

In the process of analyzing and/or mapping license agreements into their electronic resource management (ERM) systems or in developing services to support the license mapping process, library professionals were interviewed to provide a status report of license mapping in academic libraries. Areas discussed include existing practices, challenges, and support for and benefits of the mapping process. These conversations from the trenches should help professionals in the early stages of ERM implementation better conceptualize resource needs and effective practices for license mapping.     

Beyond Library Software: New Tools for Electronic Resources Management

The boom in easy-to-use Web-based software has inspired some libraries to adapt tools that were not designed for the library market to meet their needs in new and creative ways. This column will explore three examples of academic libraries that have used mainstream technologies to create new approaches to managing electronic resources acquisitions, workflows, and metadata. Each case study highlights a particular software platform, describes the decision to adopt the software, details the implementation process, and explores strengths and weaknesses of each tool.     

Guidelines for Contributors

Abstract

A 1991–2001 comparative analysis of science journal cancellations in a medium-sized academic library provides data different from a national “Annual Periodical Price Survey Report” (APPSR). After canceling 50.3 percent of Booth Library's most expensive STM (scientific, technical, and medical) journals, data show that the average cost of a science journal in the library at Eastern Illinois University is more than what the average cost should be for a medium-sized academic library. If cost determines the academic nature of a scholarly journal and its appropriateness for types of libraries, then this analysis means that some medium-sized academic libraries, such as Booth, subscribe to STM titles that are more suitable for large research libraries. Serials Review 2002; 28:102–107.     

Beyond Library Software: New Tools for Electronic Resources Management

Abstract

The boom in easy-to-use Web-based software has inspired some libraries to adapt tools that were not designed for the library market to meet their needs in new and creative ways. This column will explore three examples of academic libraries that have used mainstream technologies to create new approaches to managing electronic resources acquisitions, workflows, and metadata. Each case study highlights a particular software platform, describes the decision to adopt the software, details the implementation process, and explores strengths and weaknesses of each tool.     

Title Index

Abstract

This article describes how electronic resources have impacted the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Libraries' binding operation and how the libraries have responded to the resulting challenges, including the need for updated collection development and preservation/conservation policies, a comprehensive bindery contract, and a fully functional in-house binding capability. The evaluation of the binding process must continue as libraries move from a predominantly print to a predominantly electronic environment. Librarians, scholars, and binders should work together to preserve and bind library collections that will be valuable to future generations.     

Survey and Analysis of Electronic Journal Licenses for Long-Term Access Provisions in Tertiary New Zealand Academic Libraries

A survey of New Zealand university and polytechnic libraries indicates what proportions of library e-journal holdings have archival rights or perpetual access clauses. The author then analyzes licenses from three universities for terms, permissions, and other details. The research indicates that less than 20% of the online holdings for most New Zealand educational libraries had a print duplicate, archive, or perpetual access right. Licenses failed to address these access and rights issues in 70% of the cases surveyed. The issues of long-term access to licensed materials are addressed in less than 30% of licenses and only by providers that are offering them.     

Developing a Freely Accessible/Open Access Resource Management Policy at Duke University Libraries: A Case Study

Abstract

Freely accessible and open access resources present unique challenges for librarians working with electronic resources. Due to the fact that many of these resources lack high-quality metadata or the technical support provided by traditional publishers, making them discoverable and maintaining access over time can be tricky. Creating a policy allows for a systematic approach to the management of freely accessible/open access (OA) resources, alleviating problems surrounding lack of staff time or expertise. Many of these resources are already important parts of collections and will only continue to grow in importance. Freely accessible/OA resources allow for a more diverse representation of content, both by subject and format type, and allow a wider array of authors to have their work appear in library collections. This case study will provide a review of freely accessible/OA policies in other libraries, describe why these resources are important to add to our collections, discuss challenges libraries face with managing these resources, and explain how Duke University Libraries is addressing some of these challenges through the development of a policy.     

Cross-Consortial Collaboration: Expanding Capacity for Law Libraries

ABSTRACT

In our digital information era, libraries have increasingly joined forces to act cooperatively through library consortia. Through membership in a consortium, a library can capitalize on programs like advocacy, joint purchasing, e-resource licensing, shared discovery platforms, etc. Resources saved through such efforts, including staff time and money, can then be deployed back into the library for other, mission-critical activities. Following the economic collapse of 2008, libraries needed more than ever to maximize exceedingly scarce budgets. In response, consortia began to push the envelope, exploring even deeper collaborations in an effort to minimize redundancies and maximize efficiencies. This article will look at some examples of cross-consortial collaboration and focus specifically on the ongoing efforts among the Legal Information Preservation Alliance (LIPA), the Mid-America Law Library Consortium (MALLCO), and the NELLCO Law Library Consortium (NELLCO) to achieve more robust cooperation across the three organizations. The authors are the three executive directors of the named organizations.     

Managing Perpetual Access

ABSTRACT

Libraries are committed to long-term access to the scholarly record in published journals. The transition from print to online format has presented numerous challenges for libraries. While many publishers provide some form of post-cancellation or perpetual access to subscribed journals, libraries sometimes find it difficult to ensure that access is available to users. Language regarding perpetual access can be vague in the license agreements libraries sign with publishers. Even when perpetual access is available, libraries may lack the staff, tools, or workflows needed to review and confirm access. Examples of how libraries have addressed these challenges are provided.     

Microfilm Serial Backfiles

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to highlight the status and application of automated serials control in three central university libraries in India—namely, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). All three libraries have started to automate their serials processes, choosing either the Libsys or Virtua integrated library systems. AMU and JMI selected Libsys, while JNU installed Virtua—a product of VTLS Inc. Findings suggest that reasonable progress has been made with the use of different features of serials control systems in all these libraries. This information is helpful for other universities where libraries want to start the automation process.     

Making Usage Data Meaningful

This article reports the findings of a study of licensed database usage among libraries in the NC LIVE consortium. Researchers developed North Carolina-based library peer groups in order to build context for libraries’ usage data reports and to identify benchmarks and trends across those libraries that are top performers within each group. Additionally, researchers examined the use of selected databases across multiple library types to determine whether certain library characteristics or activities are related to database use. Researchers found that a number of library characteristics and activities predict database use, but the results vary depending upon the type of library and the database studied.     

Tools of the Serials Trade

Abstract

Many university libraries are facing budget flat-lines or reductions. While finding ways to reduce or reallocate a libraries budget is not new, the planning processes within this article merit consideration, especially for small and medium-sized libraries. Librarians must build and maintain strong relationships with constituencies and be forthright in sharing information so that joint decisions can be made. Developing a strategic plan to address the budget shortfalls and having an effective communication plan are keys to the successful outcome of any budget reduction or reallocation process. This article details the strategies and implementation of one university library.     

Electronic Journals: Cataloging and Management Practices in Academic Libraries

The growth and availability of electronic journals offer libraries the opportunity to provide end users with quick and easy access to more journals than ever before, thereby creating a complex new workload in academic libraries. Libraries have addressed the evolving challenges unique to electronic resources by creating new policies and workflows and dedicating staff to work on the processes, despite the lack of best practices. In the fall of 2009, a survey was distributed to ninety-five libraries at peer institutions to gather information about their policies and practices for cataloging and managing electronic journals in order to gauge the current status of electronic journal management among these peer institutions. This paper reports on the survey findings related to cataloging approach, sources for bibliographic records, methods for identifying problems, and the staff and staff hours dedicated to electronic journals.     

Newspapers in Review

ABSTRACT

For the second installment of the new column Problem Solved!, Kelly Smith explores how libraries have tackled the problem of electronic resource (e-resource) workflow management by implementing ticketing systems in addition to their existing integrated library system (ILS) and electronic resource management (ERM) tools. Most libraries employing ticket tracking to manage e-resources have chosen one of a variety of commercial and open source software designed for customer relations management (CRM). Alternatively, some libraries are developing homegrown systems, or kludging together freely available collaboration software to track issues.