Deciding What to Keep in Print: Essential Step in Changing to an Online Journal Collection

Objective: To develop a clear set of criteria and a systematic process for identifying core journals in Miner Library's collection for which both print and online formats will continue to be purchased. Methods: Miner Library's Serials Committee searched the library literature, surveyed other librarians through listservs and sought input from other Library staff. After the Committee identified criteria to be used in decision making, an evaluation process consisting of nine factors was created. An Excel spreadsheet that stores the data for each journal and automatically awards a point score was developed. As a pilot project, the process was applied to all Library subscriptions from the publisher Elsevier. Results: The pilot project was successful but the Serials Committee needed to conduct a final review of the journals selected by the evaluation process to be retained in print in order to ensure that these journals were the most important ones in their specialty area. Print and online formats were ordered for twenty percent of the Library's Elsevier journals in 2007. The remaining eighty percent were changed to online-only subscriptions. The Library was able to add over 20 new journals with the money saved. Conclusions: The evaluation process is an effective tool for deciding which journals should be retained in print as well as online formats. The process will be applied to journals from other publishers for 2008 renewals