Albert R. Mann Library

Mann Library is known for the strength of its collections, both print and electronic, and Library staff members take great satisfaction in striving to meet the information needs of the faculty, staff, students and other users of the library. In our efforts to meet the needs of our user community, we are diligent in selecting content to add to the collection, are determined to keep current about new research and teaching in the CALS and CHE communities and we regularly review our decision-making policies and procedures.

Journal subscriptions (or serials) reflect on-going budgetary commitments, usually including an annual price increase averaging 8% or more. Even in good years, the Library’s materials budget does not increase at that rate. That necessitates regular review of our serial subscriptions, cancelling subscriptions less used and discontinuing journals no longer within the evolving research and teaching areas of the University.

The review of serial subscriptions is even more necessary in these times of budgetary reductions, and Mann Library collection development librarians have undertaken that process again. In the past, we have identified major publishers and reviewed their titles for cancellation, often because they are the most expensive. This year, we are beginning a more comprehensive review, considering all titles by subject area, starting with agriculture (call numbers in the S classification).

We are gathering a wide array of information about each title, such as price, frequency, cost per article, whether articles are peer reviewed, whether Cornell authors publish in it, whether Cornell authors cite it, how many other institutions subscribe, whether the subject is an important area for Cornell, and much more.

Where possible, we will cancel print and subscribe to the e-journal. This realizes some savings, without loss of content. In other cases, we are proposing cancelling subscriptions outright. While we make these recommendations based on our best understanding of your research, teaching and outreach activities and needs, we need your input. Please distribute this widely to staff, graduate students and others impacted by these recommendations. We ask that you review this first of several lists of titles we are recommending for cancellation. During the open feedback peroid, you will find a link to the online comment form on the webpage listing the titles. Please send us your feedback. We welcome your input and we appreciate your participation and your support of Mann Library.

Mary Ochs
mao4@cornell.edu
255-2285

Marty Schlabach
mls5@cornell.edu
255-6919