Periodicals Cancellation Project
Why? While most of the materials covered by the UWSP Library’s budget have increased in price, print periodical subscription prices have increased the most. In recent years periodical costs have increased an average of 8-12% per year. These cost increases, coupled with zero-increase or declining budgets (our acquisitions budget was cut 11% last year), require the evaluation of our existing periodical collection. In late March 2005, the UWSP Library began the process of soliciting input for titles identified as possible candidates for cancellation.
Because periodicals make up over half of UWSP's acquisitions budget, cost containment must involve current periodical titles. The continuing problem impacts all academic libraries. UW-System libraries alone annually spend $19.9 million on library collections, of which $13 million goes to serials and periodicals. However, we recognize that cancellations must be made with careful consideration of a variety of factors and with the involvement of faculty.
We provide greater access with fewer dollars: UW-Libraries are doing a terrific job of providing information resources in spite of decades of declining purchase power due to inflation and flat or decreased budgets. UWSP's library has been able to offer greater access to resources through cooperative UW-Libraries initiatives with online databases like EBSCOhost, Project MUSE, and JSTOR. In 1997 we provided access to over 4,000 journal titles in print and online. In 2004, that figure was over 12,000!
The Process: To begin the project, an email with information about the review of our current periodical collection was sent on March 29 to academic department library liaisons. A follow-up to that message was sent providing information about specific titles that have been classified as candidates for cancellation in the discipline.
Current periodicals are identified as candidates for cancellation on the basis of some or all of the following criteria:
- Little or no recorded use over the past five years
- Full-text availability and use within larger databases
- Availability within the UW System via interlibrary loan
Titles that are particularly significant to the curriculum or are required in connection with departmental certification are to be identified and may be retained for these reasons. Departments are asked to categorize titles in the following manner:
- Essential titles – deemed critical to supporting the curriculum; please indicate if titles are required for departmental certification
- Preferred titles – preferred by the department given adequate funding
- Nonessential titles – can be cancelled
Feedback: Feedback is required by April 20 to Chris Kline, Serials Librarian, by email (ckline@uwsp.edu) or phone (x4200). You may also contact your library liaison.
The following Web pages provide additional information about the current periodical review:
- Periodical Cancellations for 2006: Frequently Asked Questions
- Periodical Candidates for Cancellation (this is the complete list of periodicals being considered for cancellation)
The University Library thanks you for your assistance with this project!