Toss Your Old Print Journals? A new Ithaka report

["Marita LaMonica" <Marita.LaMonica@ithaka.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toss Your Old Print Journals?

A new report from Ithaka S+R examines when libraries can rely on 
digitized journals and responsibly save shelf space by 
withdrawing print collections

New York, NY September 29 - As large-scale digitization efforts 
ensue, how do libraries determine when to retain print 
collections?  What to Withdraw: Print Collections Management in 
the Wake of Digitization 
<http://www.ithaka.org/ithaka-s-r/research/what-to-withdraw> , a 
new report released today from Ithaka S+R, the strategy and 
research arm of the not-for-profit organization ITHAKA 
(www.ithaka.org), analyzes which types of journals can be 
withdrawn responsibly today and how that set of materials can be 
expanded to allow libraries the maximum possible flexibility and 
savings in the future.

"Determining the value of retaining print after its digitization 
requires a system-wide analysis of the needs of all libraries and 
their users collectively, rather than focusing only on a region, 
a system, or a consortium," stated Roger Schonfeld, Manager of 
Research at Ithaka S+R and co-author of this report.  "Our 
analysis indicates that libraries today can safely de-accession 
certain print holdings that are adequately preserved in digital 
and print form elsewhere."

Analyzing the rationales for retaining and preserving scholarly 
journals in print format, the report proposes minimum time 
periods for which some system-wide access to print versions is 
required. Then, based on a study commissioned by Ithaka S+R and 
conducted by Candace Yano, a professor of industrial engineering 
and operations research and in the Haas School of Business at UC 
Berkley, the report proposes the minimum number of print copies 
that are required today depending on their condition.

Based on this analysis, the report concludes that certain print 
journal backfile sets are well enough digitized and contain few 
enough images that there is likely to be virtually no demand for 
them by users, and are sufficiently well preserved digitally and 
in print repositories that libraries can responsibly withdraw 
their own print holdings.

At the same time, the report warns that other print materials may 
not yet be ready for broad withdrawal without raising risks 
unduly. For these materials, a number of strategies are 
recommended for allowing libraries increased flexibility in the 
future. First, organizations responsible for digitization 
programs should provide more transparency on the quality of their 
digitization work and should participate in an ongoing effort to 
upgrade the quality of the scans. In addition, libraries should 
deepen existing collaborations around print preservation, perhaps 
bringing in publishers and other digitizers as partners in this 
effort.

"Libraries are right to push aggressively into the digital future 
but should do so with an awareness about risk and tradeoffs," 
stated Ross Housewright, analyst and co-author.  "There is an 
opportunity before us to make a system-wide impact on print 
collection management, but in order to do so libraries and 
digitizers need to commit to collaboration at a level unseen 
today."

Ithaka S+R
Ithaka S+R (www.ithaka.org/ithaka-s-r) is the strategy and 
research arm of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization dedicated 
to helping the academic community use digital technologies to 
preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and 
teaching in sustainable ways. The Ithaka S+R team supports 
innovation in higher education by working with initiatives and 
organizations to develop sustainable business models and by 
conducting research and analysis on the impact of digital media 
on the academic community as a whole. Insights from these efforts 
are shared broadly, with more than a dozen reports freely 
available online. JSTOR, an accessible archive of more than 1,000 
scholarly journals and other content, and Portico, a service that 
preserves content published in electronic form for future 
generations, are also part of ITHAKA.

Contact:
Heidi McGregor
VP Marketing & Communications
ITHAKA
heidi.mcgregor@ithaka.org