• Journal Titles moving from print to online - List by Title

In 2004 the Libraries adopted a policy to subscribe to online journals in lieu of paper subscriptions if online access is available from a reliable source. While we have applied this policy whenever possible, we have decided to apply the policy comprehensively by systematically reviewing all journal subscriptions over the next two years.

We are undertaking this review for a number of reasons:

• Convenience: Electronic journals are preferred by students and many faculty.
• Access: Online subscriptions open up access to Smith users from anywhere on or off-campus “24 x 7” (24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year).
• Timeliness: Many journals release the current online issue well before the paper issue is available.
• Space: With shelf space tight in all campus libraries, switching to online will help control the growth of the physical collections.
• Budget: Increasing serials prices continue to erode our purchasing power. Typically, the online subscription price for a given journal is less than the print subscription price, so the shift in format will yield cost savings. In addition, there are no binding costs associated with electronic journals.
• Labor: There are fewer costs associated with online subscriptions; they do not require claiming, receipting, shelving, binding, or reshelving.

We are targeting titles available online from our largest serials vendor first. A list has been sent to each department indicating current journal titles that will be available online only beginning in 2010. A comprehensive list of all titles that will be changed to online only is available here. 

Once this first phase is completed, we will identify other subscriptions to switch to online only. These title lists will be sent to you early in 2010 and switched to online only in 2011.

The Libraries are committed to retaining access in whatever format is available.  If a title ceases to be available online, we would reinstate our print subscription. We are also committed to maintaining electronic access in the future by participating in Portico, a service for the preservation of scholarly literature published in electronic form. (For more information, see http://www.portico.org/) If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact your liaison in the Libraries.

Christopher Loring
Director of Smith College Libraries

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