DUPLICATE SERIAL SUBSCRIPTIONS - CAN USE JUSTIFY THE COST OF DUPLICATION

Duplicate serial titles are often the object of cancellation as librar ies trim collections due to budget constraints and rising journal pric es. Duplicate title cancellation has been a noted trend as libraries l ook for the most cost-effective way to stretch their limited budgets. This study compares duplicate serial use at two departmental science l ibraries, the Chemistry Library and the Physics/Astronomy Library, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Cost per use wa s determined for all serials in both libraries during a three-month su rvey of journal use. Results indicate that because of heavy use, most duplicate journals are cost effective subscriptions at both locations.