[Eril-l] [EXT] Re: making cancellation decisions

[Crawford, Laurel]

I agree with Joanna in using ILL copyright fee as a rough threshold, and with considering the potential audience size. Joanna's methods also do something I think is very important: considering both quantitative data and subjective input. Using a cost-per-use (CPU) threshold as a trigger for review is good, but I wouldn't want to use that as my only criterion for cancellation. I think professional expertise should be applied as well.

Another technique is to group the resources together so you're comparing similar things, since CPU isn't always comparable across item types. For example, we compare CPU of journals only to journals and databases only to databases-the poorest-performing outliers will reveal themselves. We also compare by broad discipline--STEM, social sciences, humanities, arts-to make the best apples-to-apples comparison.

Note: if you are a research (doctoral) institution, I think you should try to tolerate a higher CPU, since some of your materials will be very important, but niche and only used by a few researchers. If your budget is smaller and/or your institution is focused more on undergraduate study, I would lower my tolerance threshold and only continue subscribing to the highest-performing titles.

Laurel Sammonds Crawford, MLIS
Head of Collection Development
University of North Texas Libraries
laurel.crawford at unt.edu<mailto:laurel.crawford at unt.edu>

[http://tartan.unt.edu/sites/all/themes/greenlight/images/tartan-a.jpg]

Preferred pronouns: she, her, and hers

From: Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> On Behalf Of Delavan, Joanna E
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2019 2:31 PM
To: Mueth, Sarah <mueths at uncw.edu>; eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
Subject: [EXT] Re: [Eril-l] making cancellation decisions

Our ILL department covers up to $30 for copyright fees, so we decided that would be our cutoff for cost per use. We took a harder look at the journals that had a cost-per-use that was over $30. From there we looked at the scope and the size of the audience using in that area. For instance, we have a small dental program, so low usage numbers are expected on the dental journals. Then we looked to see what other titles we had in that area, would we still have enough content in that area if we cancelled that title?


Joanna


Joanna Delavan, MSIS
Assistant Professor
Division of Academic Affairs
UAMS Library
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 West Markham, #586
Little Rock, AR  72205

Mitel Phone: 41204
Phone: (501) 686-5464
fax: (501) 296-1423
Email: jdelavan at uams.edu<mailto:jdelavan at uams.edu>
Webpage: http://library.uams.edu/

From: Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org<mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org>> On Behalf Of Mueth, Sarah
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2019 2:14 PM
To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org<mailto:eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
Subject: [Eril-l] making cancellation decisions

Has anyone developed cost metrics to use when considering cutting online journals and databases? Like if the cost per use of a journal over $x, it's a candidate for cancellation, etc. I know there are other factors that come into play when making these decisions, just wondering if anyone has developed their own guidance.

Thanks!

Sarah




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