The Zombie Stack Exchanges That Just Won't Die
We have no space left to store back issues of journals onsite, we have put some back issues into storage but this is proving very expensive. We were thinking of only storing back issues that are not available online, what do other libraries do when they are at bursting point?
user538
Our collection development policy guides which journals we keep and which we recycle. Newstand-type and pleasure-reading get recycled after six months; journals covered heavily in .pdf full text in our databases go after a year. We only keep journals that are not covered in the databases. Perhaps someday the library staff will have to revisit this policy if we run out of room, but then collection development policies are not set in stone ...
Many libraries are entering into cooperative agreements with other libraries in their region such that one library will keep a print copy as a backup and other libraries will discard theirs.
Some libraries discard back issues of journals when
The others have mentioned weeding policies, but the question could also cover 'how to dispose' of the back issues.
My current place of work's institutional library has a policy of what they'll do with materials no longer needed. I'm working from memory, but it includes giving stuff to other departments, local universities, and even individual employees.
I've been trying to get NASA ADS higher in their priority list, as they're currently vesting themselves of all printed materials, and when I disposed of our local departmental library (disposing of anything in ADS, and all others to the main library), two weeks later ADS put out a call for some of the stuff we had disposed of, so they get some higher quality scans.
Also, there may be other places interested in the back articles. I regularly see postings on SLA's PAMNET mailing list of weeding lists, asking if anyone's interested in journal back issues or duplicate books. I can only assume they do it because there are people who want them.
Libraries with lists of journals in JSTOR for which they wish to deaccession the corresponding print back volumes may also contact JSTOR directly to see if JSTOR could use the print volumes for either of the two print repositories that it sponsors. We are working on making up-to-date print repository needs lists available via our website, but, in the meantime, you may contact us directly at: [email protected]