Journal Subscription Alerts Policy

Journal Subscription Alerts Policy: Automatic Cancellation Conditions

Collection Development, Spring 2019

Background: Increases to journal subscriptions are anticipated. This is not usually covered by an equal increase in the University’s budget for the Library’s resources. While outside forces such as these are not the best reasons for having to cut resources, the increases are impactful and must be considered.

Process: Acquisitions receives alerts from EBSCO when a journal’s cost is $200 or more and a rate increase is higher than 7%. The Acquisitions Specialist sends this alert to the subject librarian for consideration in continuing the subscription. The Dean is copied in the email and in any follow-up exchanges. The Acquisitions Specialist also responds to EBSCO with a request for more information but this is no guarantee of a response and/or change in rate.

In a timely manner, the subject librarian investigates the most recent usage statistics to determine whether or not the journal’s increased cost continues to justify the expense. It is up to the subject librarian whether or not to bring the consideration forward to others for additional information.

Outcome: The subject liaison should respond to the alert email within 14 days of its send date. The response should indicate whether or not the subscription should continue and why, providing data as determined within the consideration.

If the subject liaison doesn’t respond to the alert email within 14 days of the its send date, the journal subscription be cancelled by the Acquisitions Specialist. The Acquisitions Specialist will notify the Dean of the impending cancellation for budgetary purposes, not for intended follow-up with the subject librarian.