Just wanted to say thanks for all your helpful replies.  To summarize:  The consensus seems to be that I shouldn’t contact journal publishers directly to notify of cancellation, otherwise known as “non renewal”, because it is largely unnecessary and may cause publishers to stop sending issues now.  

It sounds like I may need to contact  the newspaper publishers near the end of December, or at least check their information in our subscription agent’s system carefully regarding cancellation.

It would be a good idea to put in pop-up notes in the checkin-in records so that canceled titles will not be checked in after 2010, and we can notify publishers to stop sending issues if we keep on getting them.  Also, it’s important to make sure none of these canceled titles get claimed after the close of 2009.

Appreciatively,

Diane Westerfield

Electronic Resources and Serials Librarian

Colorado College, Tutt Library

(719) 389-6661

(719) 389-6082 (fax)

diane.westerfield@coloradocollege.edu

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Diane Westerfield
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 2:59 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Cancellation question

Hi,

I am undertaking my first large print journal cancellation project.  My question to you serials veterans is:

Do I need to notify publishers directly about these cancellations?  Or is it sufficient, as my customer service rep says, for our subscription agent to not place an order and that will signify as a cancellation?

I’ve seen a few expensive titles linger on a year later than they were supposed to because the publisher wasn’t informed in time of the intent to cancel.  We are cancelling many titles (of publishers of varying size and type) and counting on the cost savings going forward.  I don’t want to see a single publisher come back and charge us for unwanted print.  However, notifying several dozen publishers of specific title cancellations would be a lot of work, I’d rather avoid any unnecessary projects.  Any words of wisdom on this would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Diane Westerfield

Electronic Resources and Serials Librarian

Colorado College, Tutt Library

(719) 389-6661

(719) 389-6082 (fax)

diane.westerfield@coloradocollege.edu