Radical Relocation: Adapting Print Collections to an E-Centric World

Abstract

With the advent of e-journal preservation projects and publisher digitization of journal backfiles, academic libraries have begun to move their corresponding print volumes of these titles to storage to avoid duplication and save space. This article examines the supporting justifications, outreach mechanisms, and logistical procedures undertaken at American University Library to relocate the entire bound journal collection to offsite storage in order to address severe physical space constraints and to support patron use of and preference for electronic journal content. In addition, the article presents preliminary data regarding the use of bound volumes sent to storage and an overall analysis of this transformational project.

Keywords:

• collection management
• document delivery
• electronic journals
• journal usage
• library space
• offsite storage

Acknowledgments

Preliminary data contained in this article was presented at the 2010 Electronic Resources & Libraries conference as “Where Have All the Print Journals Gone? Adapting Print Collections to an E-Centric World.”