These decisions depend on needs of your clients.  One library that did
this title by title found that they still needed print for
dermatology.  For an association library, I'd keep print for titles
specific to the discipline, particularly those published by the
association.

Peg


On Sat, May 31, 2008 at 11:02 AM, Library, Fairfax
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Gina:
>
> I think everything depends on the journal title and its importance to
> your users.
>
> We purchase journal (and book) titles electronically for both space and
> access reasons.  When possible (financially) we purchase journal
> collections electronically in order to offer access to our staff from
> outside the library.  Most everyone (library staff, library users both
> in the library and remotely) love electronic access.  And yes we have
> all the usual concerns about access and ownership, but short of trying
> to negotiate the most advantageous possible site license there are no
> guarantees in the world of electronic access.  One of my growing pet
> peeves of the last few years is the control publishers exert over access
> to information and their lack of accountability to anyone but
> themselves.
>
> Why is those publishers can sell access for a subscription but then
> change that access (e.g. print to electronic) midway through a
> subscription year? Or raise the subscription price after the
> subscription year has started and bill you for the increase?  Or request
> that purchasers sign a non-disclosure clause with regard to subscription
> prices (just confirming what we have all suspected - that pricing is
> hugely variable and largely what the market will bear)?  Or cut off all
> electronic access even to previous years once you stop subscribing to a
> journal title?  Or offer only electronic access and then cancel even
> that - such as has happened this year with a series of titles indexed in
> Index Medicus, available only electronically and now no longer available
> even in that format?  Unless you can buy the digital files and load them
> locally you have no guarantee of continued electronic access.  And why
> have we as a profession not been more vocal about these issues?
>
> Sorry, as I said earlier, this is sore point with me and one on which I
> think we need much more open conversation in the medical library
> community.
>
> Libby Samuel
> Medical Librarian
> Inova Fairfax Hospital
> 3300 Gallows Road
> Falls Church, VA  22042
> phone: 703-776-3357
> fax:  703-776-3353
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Medical Libraries Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Blodgett, Gini
> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 5:53 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Ref ? Online-only journals for your library -- what's your
> opinion?
>
> Hello. I have searched the MEDLIB archives for a thread along this line
> and my searches weren't fruitful, so I am asking the list - how do you
> feel about online-only journals for your library? Would you keep your
> subscription if a publisher disbanded its print edition? What are your
> concerns, if any, regarding: access?  ownership of material (during a
> subscription/after a subscription stops)? Any others (concerns)?
>
>
>
> I've read thru the threads about spacing problems regarding shelving
> printed journals - so that one is covered. Any ideas re  terms for
> listserv threads I may have missed are welcome.
>
>
>
> Thank you in advance for your help.
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Gini Blodgett Birchett, MSLS
>
>
>
> Director, Information Resources
>
> American Physical Therapy Association
>
> 1111 N. Fairfax Street
>
> Alexandria, Va. 22314-1488
>
> 703.706.8534 (phone)
>
> 800.999.2782, x8534 (toll-free)
>
> [log in to unmask]
> --------------------------------------------------------
>
> American Physical Therapy Association - 1111 N. Fairfax Street,
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-- 
Margaret (Peg) Allen, MLS-AHIP
P.O. Box 2, Stratford, WI, 54484
715-687-4976 Mobile 715-212-3635
Peg Allen, Library Consultant
www.pegallen.net pegallen @ verizon.net
Coordinator, Hmong Health Education Network
www.hmonghealth.org