Number 54 Nov. 27, 1996

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Edited by David Morse (University of Southern California) dmorse@hsc.usc.edu

Editorial Board members:

Email address for all correspondence and subscriptions: dmorse@hsc.usc.edu

WEB Edition Published at Duke University:
HTML coding by Eric Albright, maldacht@duke.edu
Masthead design by Dan Barkey, d-barkey@nwu.edu

Current Subscribers: 395

CONTENTS

54.1 Discussion: 1997 Journal Price Increases - The Editor
54.2 Response to BLAB #53: Price of JBC Online - David Goodman
54.3 Response to BLAB #53: Electronic Versions of Journals - Mike Markwith
54.4 Inquiry: Chinese-English Medical Dictionaries - Ramune Kubilius
54.5 Inquiry: New Who's Who in Medicine - Melanie Wilson
54.6 Inquiry: Who Selects Digital Materials? - Dottie Eakin
54.7 Announcement: NASIG Award
54.8 Job Announcement: University of Iowa Collection Development

54.1 DISCUSSION: 1997 JOURNAL PRICE INCREASES From: The Editor <dmorse@hsc.usc.edu>

THAT SUCKING SOUND YOU HEAR ...

That sucking sound you hear is the sound of your 1997 journals budget being sucked down the drain by publishers. The analysis below shows increases on those titles costing over $1500 from the major publishers. It's not a pretty picture, with increases averaging around 14% or higher. It's especially discouraging that the Elsevier increases are so steep, given the fact that the U.S. dollar increased in value relative to the Dutch guilder by about 7% between mid-1995 and mid-1996. (Note the comparatively laudable restraint exercised by Springer-Verlag.)

Our only recourse here, as usual, is to initiate another round of cancellations. I do, however, intend to make clear to these publishers that cancellations will be targeted to those publishers who are causing the problem. The only way publishers are going to think twice about increases like these is if they understand that they will result in cancellations of THEIR titles, not somebody else's.

In discussions with some publishers, I have heard that one cause of the price increases is the heavy investment being made in electronic publication. While understandable, the net result will still be that subscriber bases will dwindle further, resulting in a fatal spiral of further price increases and further cancellations. I am slowly coming to the view that ANY title costing over $1500 is "at risk" for this sort of implosion.

What do the rest of you think?

[I have used the best figures available to me for 96 and 97 prices; I would be happy to be corrected if any of you have better figures for these titles.]

PUBLISHER TITLE COST96 COST97 RISE

54.2 RESPONSE TO BLAB #53: PRICE OF JBC ONLINE From: David Goodman, Princeton U. <DGOODMAN@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU>

At Princeton we are discussing the [cost of electronic journals]. On the one hand we have so far refused to pay more than 15% premium for electronic access to a journal for which we have the paper copy also, and that we should not pay more than that for merely increased ease of access to an item for which we already pay for basic access and copyright.

On the other hand we do have two subscriptions, so we are in effect already paying double for ease of access; JBC is one of the very few high quality E-journals; and JBC in E-journal format is in fact significantly used. If the faculty in either Chemistry or Biology are willing to drop their printed copy, we will probably continue the E-journal. If they are not willing,we probably will not. My personal opinion is that we should not subscribe at the rates requested in any case, whether or not we drop the 2nd copy. However, others need to be consulted as well. I would like to hear what others think.

54.3 RESPONSE TO BLAB #53 : AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF JOURNALS

From: Michael Markwith, Swets & Zeitlinger <mmarkwith@swets.nl>

In response to Cindy Cline's question about Vendors noting electronic versions of serials, I offer the following:

In recent years there has been an explosion in the number of serials published in electronic format. Most notable of these are CD-ROM's, but other formats include diskette, magnetic tape, electronic journals, and remote access over the Internet to databases and titles held on computer servers. To provide a central source for bibliographic information on publications with multiple formats, Swets has introduced EM-Link, our Electronic Media Title link.

EM-Link, an enhancement to our existing database of title information, links together bibliographic and price information on all electronic media formats available for a title to the existing bibliographic information on paper-based titles. Customers are able to access this information via DataSwets, our on-line information and communication system.

With the innovation of EM-Link, Swets ensures that customers have all the information they need to choose the publication formats that best suit their needs. It also allows us to perform the same range of services we offer for paper-based serials, such as a single source for orders and inquiries, technical support, comprehensive information services and consolidated invoicing. To further assist customers, we also provide an annual Electronic Media Catalogue listing the publication formats available for thousands of titles.

54.4 INQUIRY: CHINESE-ENGLISH MEDICAL DICTIONARIES

From: Ramune Kubilius, Northwestern U. <r-kubilius@nwu.edu>

In our quick reference collection we try to house bilingual dictionaries in the major languages spoken by our non-native English speakers. We have been asked for a Chinese-English medical (or health or science) dictionary. Any recommendations for titles of recent vintage that I can pass along to our Collection Development Librarian? So far, no reviews either of us has seen address this issue, and we no longer have any native speakers on staff.

54.5 INQUIRY: NEW WHO'S WHO IN MEDICINE

From: Melanie Wilson, U. Iowa <melanie-wilson@uiowa.edu>

Has anyone seen the new reference book "Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare" from Marquis? Cost is about $250.00 for the book, which is said to include "biographical background" on *20,000* "successful medical professionals, administrators, educators, researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders from across the diverse fields of medicine and healthcare", according to the ad. (And all of the above in only 700 pages!)

My question is--is this worth the investment, or is it just a reprinting of the same info we get in American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in Nursing, the ABMS Directory, and the Directory of Physicians from the AMA?

54.6 INQUIRY: WHO SELECTS DIGITAL MATERIALS?

From: Dottie Eakin, Texas A&M <Deakin@medlib.tamu.edu>

The selection of electronic resources presents some unique challenges, compared to the process for print materials. Decisions may be affected by technical capability, staff support, mode of access (within library, through local or wide area networks, or remote through the Internet), licensing requirements, user training, etc.), as well as questions about content, user interface, relation to print counterparts, and cost. For these reasons, the same individuals or groups that are involved in selection of electronic resources (including curriculum software, full text books and journals, and databases) may not be the same as for print materials. It would be interesting to get an idea of how libraries approach the selection of electronic resources and how the process differs from that used for print. Do you have a committee? Several committees? Who is involved in the process? Who makes decisions? Where do library clientele fit in the process?

54.7 ANNOUNCEMENT: NASIG AWARD

From: Anne McKee, Blackwell's Periodicals <AMcKeeBHB@aol.com>

The North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG), composed of many constituents of the serials industry, is an independent organization which provides for the exchange and dissemination of information among the various links in the serials information chain.

NASIG is sponsoring the 1997 NASIG Horizon Award, (originally established in 1995 to recognize its tenth annual conference.) The purpose of this award is to welcome aspiring new serialists to the serials profession by introducing the recipient to NASIG, to further enhance the recipient's knowledge of and interest in serials, and to provide an opportunity for interaction with other members of the serials chain.

DESCRIPTION OF AWARD: The NASIG Horizon Award provide the recipients opportunity for professional development by attendance at NASIG's twelfth annual conference to be held May 29-June 1st, 1997 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. NASIG is pleased to announce that a maximum of three (3) recipients will be chosen.

NASIG will assume all conference fees and travel costs. The recipients will receive a free year's membership to NASIG, and will be invited to serve on a NASIG committee the year following the award.

ELIGIBILITY: Applicants should currently be in a position of a professional nature with primary responsibilities for some aspect of serials, e.g. head of serials, serials acquisitions, serials vendor, serials publisher. Applicants must have served in this position for no more than three years.

Applicants do not have to be a member of NASIG, and they should not have attended any previous NASIG conferences. Preference will be given to applicants with previous serials experience, to those employed by a North American organization or institution, and to those whose career goals include long range plans for professional growth and development in serials.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applications will be available after November 15, 1997 from:

Anne E. McKee, Co.-Chair,
NASIG Awards & Recognition Committee;
Serials Specialist, Blackwell's Periodicals
7942 West Bell Road C-5, #181

1-800-458-3706 OR 602-876-1296 602-876-1292-fax
email: McKee@BNAMF.Blackwell.com

Applications must be accompanied by a letter of reference from a current supervisor.

Completed applications should be returned to Anne E. McKee as above.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 15th, 1997.

54.8 JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: U. IOWA COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

From: David Curry, U. Iowa <david-curry@uiowa.edu>

COORDINATOR FOR ELECTRONIC AND PRINT RESOURCES Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, University of Iowa Libraries

Position Description: Reporting to the Head of the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences, selects electronic, print, and multimedia materials to support education, research, and clinical care in a large academic health sciences center. Takes a leadership role in evaluating, selecting, and managing accessibility of electronic information resources in the health sciences. Works with Coordinator for Services to select electronic databases and other information resources to be made available through the Hardin Library. Administers an information resources budget of $850,000.

Selects and manages collection of government publications, with a special emphasis on making available materials in electronic formats. Plans and supervises full-scale collection analyses to identify areas in the health sciences needing strengthening or reduction. Participates on system-wide Collection Management Committee representing Hardin Library, and works cooperatively on collection issues with other collection management librarians and the Director, Collections and Information Resources. Maintains liaison with the Health Science Center user community and contact with health colleges and the University Hospital to identify new programs and changing emphases which will require additional funding for information resources. Works with health sciences departments and staff to cooperatively fund selected expensive or specialized information resources.

Qualifications: Required: A graduate degree from an ALA accredited library and information science program, or the equivalent; a graduate or under- graduate degree in the life sciences or familiarity with the health sciences disciplines and terminology; a minimum of three years professional library experience; an understanding of the mission of research institutions and research libraries, and the role of electronic and print collections in these settings; work experience in an academic library; knowledge of the literature of the health sciences; experience with electronic information resources and services, and with working in an automated environment; knowledge of Internet-based services and applications; willingness to work in a challenging environment within a team-based organization; excellent oral and written communication skills; and demonstrated commitment to an active program of professional involvement.

Preferred: Professional experience in an academic helath sciences library; experience in providing information and educational services at the university level; demonstrated managerial and leadership abilities; and experience building successful collaborative efforts with university teaching faculty and professional staff. Budget management skills also desirable.

Salary and Appointment: Appointment rank and salary will be based on relevant experience and educational background. Salary range: $31,500 to $40,000.

Application Procedures: Applications must be received by February 14, 1997. Qualified individuals should submit a letter of application, resume, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to: Janice Simmons-Welburn, Coordinator, Personnel and Diversity Programs, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420, (319) 335-5871. For more information on this position, the Hardin Library, or the University of Iowa, see the web site at http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/commons/hlhscepr.

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. WOMENT AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.