We keep a database (in Filemaker) of every serial title - print and certain stand-alone databases (JSTOR, PMuse, BioOne, etc.).  In that database is information about format, coverage (volumes, years), a box to check if it’s a current print title, system or OCLC number, cost and one or more academic departments to which that title is relevant.

 

What this allows us to do is get a cost per use as well as perform a quick sort by departments, and whether it’s current print or not.  I then meet with each department on campus (or just send to them as an attachment) to keep them informed of which titles we get in print and ask if those titles continue to be needed.

 

-        Kelly

 

 

Kelly Joyce

Director of the Duggan Library

Hanover College

Hanover, IN 47243

(812) 866-7160

 

 

Cost per use is a good screening tool for making renewal decisions. If you have some wiggle room in your budget, you may want to review subscriptions every 4-5 years. We usually have to cancel some to stay within the budget, so we review annually.

 

We calculate cpu, then look at the highest cpu titles as potential non-renewals. Before we decide what not to renew, we look at 2-3 years of usage for our high cpu titles. We don’t want to non-renew based on one year’s use because use may drop when courses are taught alternating years, faculty are on sabbatical, or positions are vacant. If a title has high cpu for 2-3 years, we’ll probably non-renew  it. We sometimes renew a high cpu title because it supports a small program and we don’t have much else for that program.

 

Ginger

--

Virginia Kay Williams

Acquisitions Librarian and Associate Professor

Wichita State University

1845 Fairmount / Box 68

Wichita, KS 67260-0068

316-978-6442

ginger.williams@wichita.edu

 

From: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LISTSERV.NASIG.ORG] On Behalf Of Jason Skoog
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2015 2:11 PM
To: SERIALST@LISTSERV.NASIG.ORG
Subject: [SERIALST] Cost Per Use Statistics

 

 

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