>Eventually, we have to pick subscriptions to cancel. If
we
>don't make our cancellation decisions based on usage and
cost,
>what criteria should we use? I don't ask that question
>facetiously -- I'd be honestly interested to know, from
a
>publisher's perspective, what other criteria _would_
make sense.
Rick, we are never happy with simple algorithms around here.
No,
the STM journal world is a complicated place. We not only
consider use and cost, but impact factors as well. When
looking
at 8,000 in-scope journals which are critical to the
research,
education, and clinical care activities in the biomedical
environment this library serves, finding titles to cut
becomes a
dangerous activity. So, we gather as much ammunition as we
can
before making those cancellation lists public. Having open
access
journals of high quality now helps ease the pain a bit, but
each
year is more of a nightmare--cut journals? Stop buying
books?
Pray the journal price increase will not exceed 5%? What
about
databases?
Impact factors may not have the "impact" they once
did, but they
are still useful pieces of the overall data picture I have
to
present to faculty and biomedical researchers, who
understand
them.
Happy New Year to all on this wonderful list!!
Leah Krevit, M.L.I.S.
Associate Director
Collections Management
Houston Academy of Medicine -
Texas Medical Center Library
Houston TX 77030-2809
713.799.7126 | 713.799.7180 fax
leah.krevit exch.library.tmc.edu
http://resource.libra
ry.tmc.edu
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