JSTOR

Our library is considering  a subscription to selected JSTOR Arts and Sciences Collections. To purchase all in one year would cost about $60,000 including the first year of the $15,000 annual maintenance fee. Since the total figure is equal to roughly our total annual periodical budget, we looking for creative ways to do this.

1. Do not purchase all seven collections. It appears that 3,5, and 7 will meet most of our needs.
2. Purchase one new collection a year. The first year's cost would be about $7,000, and 8-9 thousand the following year. After the third year,  the annual cost would be about $7,000 a year.
3. Use book funds to make the purchase. We are essentially purchasing back issues of the journals, not current subscriptions. Of course, our budget categories reflect 1960's thinking about allocating funds. Information resources are information resources. Today we should think in terms of a budget to own content outright and annual expense of keeping the content up to date.

These are  preliminary observations. A full proposal will go to the administration. There is still a question if have that much money to expend event though it is budgeted.  More to come.

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