Library expenditures have increased faster than inflation over the las
t six years. Ironically, libraries are losing ground economically in s
everal key areas. How can this be? Claims on the library dollar--not o
nly unit prices but the full spectrum of library budgetary demands--ar
e growing even faster than the library budget. Not only have the price
s of monographs and serials increased, but journal proliferation has p
laced additional pressures on the library dollar. Despite the stabilit
y of library funding over recent years, libraries are shifting funds a
way from book purchase toward serials purchase. But even this shift is
not enough to cover the shortfall. Book collections are weaker, and s
till many libraries cannot provide comprehensive coverage of the journ
al literature. Both serial cancellations and serial acquisitions are t
aking place concurrently.