Are library collections more electronic now than they were three years ago?
The purchasing decisions made by libraries are crucial to the way publishers choose to make their content available both now and in the future.
With the academic library landscape experiencing major changes in recent years and the demand for electronic access to resources continuing to grow, libraries, while working to address the demands of their patrons, are also being faced with many questions that have serious repercussions.
Furthermore, Open Access journals, and the ideologies behind their creation, continue to weigh on librarians’ collection decisions. At this time it is vital that publishers understand the significance of these resources in the collections of academic libraries and the way they have influenced collection decisions.
Based on a survey developed by Publishers Communication Group (PCG), the following is an extract from a report that is intended to be the first in an annual series titled Global Electronic Collection Trends in Academic Libraries, seeking to answer such questions as:
• Are library collections more electronic now than they were three years ago?
• Are academic libraries collecting electronic resources directly through the publisher, or are they instead turning to subscription agencies, third party suppliers or consortia?
• How many academic libraries cancel print subscriptions when the content is available electronically?
Key findings include:
• 84% of respondents reported that their institution had cancelled print subscriptions when the content was available electronically.
• The leading factor influencing the collection of electronic resources is library policy, followed closely by the preference of faculty members and of students.
• The majority of respondents (67%) indicated that their institution catalogs or indexes peer-reviewed Open Access journals.
• Only 9% of respondents’ institutions have cancelled a subscription when comparable content was available through an Open Access publication.
Demographics
Between February and May 2004, PCG talked to 155 electronic resource and collection librarians and administrators at libraries throughout the world. Their aim - to develop a clear picture of the factors that influence the collection of electronic resources and the impact of Open Access publications.
© 2004 Publishers Communication Group, Inc. Reproduction strictly prohibited
Results: A Snapshot
Electronic Resource Collection Trends: Quantity
Overwhelmingly, librarians reported that the quantity of electronic resources in their collection had increased during the past three years; 91% experienced an increase in electronic resources in the library collection. Furthermore, 7% have experienced no change in the quantity of electronic resources while only 1% reported that they are actually collecting fewer electronic resources than they were three years ago.
Driving Forces Behind Implementation of Electronic Resource Collection
Many factors influence resource collection decisions in academic libraries regardless of geography. Librarians were asked to identify which factors had influenced their decisions regarding collecting electronic resources, specifically, what factors resulted in the libraries collecting more, less or the same quantity of electronic resources during the past three years. It is important to note that the influence of faculty members and students was roughly equivalent on the question of electronic resource collection, with 21% of librarians reporting that their electronic resource collection decisions were influenced by faculty suggestions or preferences and 20% reporting that students suggestions or preferences played a similar role. Interestingly, 23% of those contacted indicated that the electronic resource collection decisions were driven by library objectives/policy.
© 2004 Publishers Communication Group, Inc. Reproduction strictly prohibited
Collection Method Preference
Librarians were asked about their library’s preferred method of collecting electronic journals and content.
While there was no indication of a standard method of collecting electronic journals and content at the libraries surveyed, a slight majority indicated that the institution preferred to obtain electronic resources exclusively through contracts orchestrated by subscription agencies. The majority of respondents indicated that their library does not follow a strict policy for acquiring new electronic resources but instead makes purchase decisions that are driven by the content instead of the process. In such instances, the library may take a number of factors into consideration when deciding which collection approach makes the most sense for their circumstances.
© 2004 Publishers Communication Group, Inc. Reproduction strictly prohibited.
Duplication of Print and Electronic Formats of Content
The issue of content duplication continues to be an issue of serious concern for both library staff and publishers alike. When asked if their library had cancelled print subscriptions to journals whose content was already available to the library electronically, 84% of those surveyed indicated that they had eliminated the print subscription, considering it to be a duplicate subscription to the same content.
Impact of Open Access Journals: Cataloguing and Indexing Open Access Journals
It is perhaps no surprise that Open Access publications were a hot topic for many librarians contacted with 67% indicating that their institutional catalogues or indexes peer-reviewed Open Access journals on a regular basis. In many cases, Open Access journals are managed just as traditional subscriptions are handled, entered directly into the library catalogue. Others explained that they add peer-reviewed Open Access titles to their A-Z list of journals available electronically. 9% of those responding to this question reported that some Open Access publications are catalogued or indexed, but there is not a policy of including all peer-reviewed OA publications. Surprisingly, only 25% of those responding indicated that their library did not actively catalogue or index Open Access publications for patron use.
© 2004 Publishers Communication Group, Inc. Reproduction strictly prohibited
Influence of Open Access Journals on Collection Habits
Librarians were asked if the availability of peer-reviewed Open Access journals influenced the decision process for the acquisition of subscription journals and paid electronic content. 57% of those who responded reported that the availability of Open Access journals did not influence collection habits.
© 2004 Publishers Communication Group, Inc. Reproduction strictly prohibited.
Although the majority of those responding to questions about Open Access journals reported that they have not had a significant impact on the collection habits of the library, many also indicated that some changes had been made to recognize their availability. Specifically, 9% explained that they have replaced subscriptions to journals with a peer-reviewed Open Access journal of equal quality when available. However, the majority of respondents (60%) preferred to supplement their collection with links to peer-reviewed Open Access journals. 24% explained that their institution has made no changes in light of the availability of Open Access publications while 6% indicated that they have made other changes in response to the availability of Open Access journals.
© 2004 Publishers Communication Group, Inc. Reproduction strictly prohibited
Publishers Communication Group, Inc. provides consulting and marketing services to publishers.
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