Status of ITS resources
How are titles selected for review and/or cancellation?
All library materials are reviewed, including databases, journals and books.
A review for most electronic materials involves a comprehensive evaluation of all subscription-based costs, so we are assessing print journals, online journals, and database titles to which we currently subscribe.
In the course of our analysis, we take into consideration multiple criteria: We weigh both quantitative and qualitative data as well as the overall cost of the materials. For example, librarians compile data regarding pricing, frequency of publication and any platform/feature improvements. We also analyze how K-State researchers use the materials through careful review of usage and circulation data, citation analysis, and feedback gathered from departments and individual K-Staters.
One way to help us analyze usage efficiently is to use permalinks to articles in your courses. We have no way of documenting use without being able to track it through our systems.
Where can I find a list of cancelled titles?
You can find a list of cancelled or reduced-access materials on our non-renewals page.
How can I get access to titles once they have been cancelled?
A number of journal titles are duplicated in our various databases. It's possible a title cancelled through one vendor is available through another. To see the sources that provide online access to a title, please use the e-Journals search function. You can also contact the librarian who works most closely in your discipline to learn more about how and where to access materials.
The libraries’ Interlibrary Loan service can be used to request materials that the libraries do not own. Most journal articles are delivered directly to you at no charge in less than 36 hours.
What are K-State Libraries doing to manage collections?
We understand that the libraries’ resources are vital for the work that you do, and we will continue to approach budgetary constraints in thoughtful and transparent ways, as illustrated below.
Collaborations:
Review and negotiation processes:
Continue to:
How can K-State faculty, staff, and students help?
The K-State community can engage in activities that can affect change on scholarly communication.
To learn more about getting actively involved in open publishing practices and copyright, please consult with faculty within the Center for the Advancement of Digital Scholarship.
What are the “big deal” journal packages?
“Big deals” are packages offered to libraries based on a library’s previous expenditures on journals, and usually include all of the rest of the publishers’ titles for a flat fee. These are obtained through multi-year contracts, with specific capped annual price increases – around 4% to 5%. While they are predictable for budgeting, they are incredibly restrictive because libraries cannot reduce the number of titles in order to spend less. Without increases to our collections budget, we will not be able to renew several of these contracts.
Many academic libraries are choosing to break away from these big deal packages. A list of these libraries has been gathered by the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC).
Why do we subscribe to big packages instead of individual journal subscriptions?
For many years, Libraries subscribed to “big deal” packages, which bundled a large number of journals at a price significantly lower than it would cost to purchase them all individually. As prices have increased, many libraries have broken these big deals. K-State Libraries have broken up some packages and will continue to look at others as they come up for renewal. However, this does not provide a solution to our problem.
When we break up packages, the list price goes up (often significantly) for the titles we do retain. In the short run, that helps us meet our bottom line. In the long run, it means the publishers will hike the inflation on the remaining titles each year to recover revenue. Additionally, while the total number of titles we have access to goes down, the level of staff time required to process them goes up. For example, if we break up a large package and reduce the number of titles to 500. That's potentially 500 invoices, 500 different inflation increases, and 500 different renewal/cancellation decisions each and every year as opposed to one. These decisions involve a great deal of work on the back end.
What are some examples of costs and annual increases?
For a more general view of these trends, take a look at our infographic.
Are new materials being purchased?
Due to budget callbacks and reduced allocations, a moratorium on all new spending has been implemented through the end of the fiscal year (June 30th, 2019). New subscriptions and content decisions are based on requests from the K-State community. New requests for consideration can be made by completing our Purchase Suggestion Form.
Does the moratorium and cancellation have anything to do with the May 22nd fire?
No, these decisions and activities would have been necessary.
Whom should I contact at the libraries for more information?
For more information about library collection management and decision making in your area, please contact K-State’s content development librarians directly or send general questions to Sheila Yeh, associate dean of collections, discovery, and information technology. You can also reach out to the librarian in your discipline to help you connect with information in your field.
