Wayne State University Library System
University Library Committee

December 13, 2007
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Dean's Conference Room

Minutes

Present: B. Callahan, A. Conti, D. Featherston, J. Hankin, M. Jackson, S.H. Kuivaniemi, J. McGinnity, M. Mougoue, S. Ng, C. Schochet, J. Sondheimer, S. Yee

  1. Claude Schochet welcomed group and individual introductions of committee members followed.
  2. Sandra Yee introduced Beth Callahan, Assistant Director for Acquisitions to the committee. Beth led a discussion regarding the library system's acquisitions processes as it pertains to journals. Key points from the discussion include:
    • Swets is the library system's primary subscription services company. (does not include law)
      • The Swets invoice has increased by 28% from last year's invoice.
      • This increase will use up $288,000 of our $200,000 acquisitions budget increase.
      • The library system will add new serials to the collections only if cancellations are achieved or new money is found.
      • Library leadership will review any requests for new databases.
      • High cost/low use serial titles are being reviewed over the next 6 months.
    • The library system continues to move from print to electronic formats.
      • Move is hampered by publishers who see lost revenue from advertising and charge more for electronic access. Though access to e-resources may be more cost effective, the publishers, many of them publicly traded companies, have to show growth to their investors. Consequently, libraries are charged more for e-access than print access.
      • Publishers will be moving away from print subscription model.
      • Publishers don't have viable model to replace print model.
      • Chaos in the industry as publishers "try on" different models.
      • Force us to know what we want and why.
    • The library system will have to make some difficult decisions about databases and other materials over the next two years to stay within budget.
      • Try to reduce our current database obligations.
      • Move databases to consortium agreements when suitable.
      • Review our book purchases closely.
      • Revise our approval plan, buy what we want, do not receive what we don't want, get better deal from approval plan company.
    • Other key points:
      • At this time we have usage data on approximately 75% of journals.
      • Committee members expressed the need to produce a list of all journals by subject area with associated cost. This should be made available on the library website and updated frequently.
      • The question was raised: What should subject liaisons have prepared when they go out to departments to talk with faculty about journal renewals/needs? Committee members agreed that usage data and cost breakdowns would be important information to provide. However, other data may be necessary as well.
  3. Reviewed possible dates for next semester meetings. Dates for semester meetings are Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 20, April 3 and May 8. All meetings are from 2:30 - 3:30 pm in the Dean's Conference Room.

Submitted by: A. Conti