I had a retention / disposal problem at EP in 1992/93. The solution in
my case was:
1) Journals with less than 3 locations with longer runs in SW Thames
(interlending cooperative), keep the whole run.
2) Popular titles, e.g. BMJ, Lancet, keep 25 years
3) The rest, keep 15 years.
I don't know whether there are any strict guidelines on retention /
disposal, but I suspect other libraries do something like this.
We kept a count of photocopying done by library staff over ten months,
dividing journals into five year periods. Cumulative percentages were:
up to 5 years 78.3%, up to 10 87.6%, up to 15 90.1%, up to 20 92.6%,
up to 25 95.7%, etc. As we didn't count photocopying done by library
users, interested in more current journals, the figures for more recent
years are probably on the low side. I don't know whether this is
typical, but it gives some idea.
It seems to me that there is a reasonable case for disposing of
journals over 10 or 15 years old, but it depends on your space
situation, of course. This is pretty much in line with the rule of thumb
that material over 10 years old (average - depends on specialty) needs a
good reason for being retained.
Gordon.
Gordon Smith
The Sally Howell Library
Epsom General Hospital
Dorking Road
Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EG
Tel. 01372-735688, Fax 01372-735687
NULJ=HOWE, HLN=EP
<<Cela est bien dit>> rEpondit Candide
<<mais il faut cultiver notre jardin>>. - Voltaire.
>>> "Dove, Andrew" <[log in to unmask]> 16/02/2005 16:12:27 >>>
Good Afternoon all
I am looking to find out how long people keep journals for, either in
their archive or on their shelves, we currently have journals going back
to around 1940 in the archive, with journals in the library going back
to 1980.
I am enquiring to see if we need archives going back so far and
whether other librarys have disposed or are disposing of journals before
a certain date eg 1960/1970?
Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks
Andrew Dove
Medical Library
Hull Royal Infirmary
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