SOURCE

Volume 11, Number 2
April 1997

Subscription cost increases require cancellation of additional journals
Romeo's Web
Enhancements save searchers time and trouble
Serial title cancellations
Focus on Friends
Linking the library with UMC's accounting system
Rehabilitation and handicapped literature
FAQs On File

Subscription cost increases require cancellation of additional journals

Current published information is essential to the research programs in a major healthsciences facility. In a health sciences library, the journal literature represents anywhere from 60-75% of the information materials budget. During the past five years, the subscription rate for titles indexed in Index Medicus has increased approximately 64% according to data published in the Index Medicus Price Study 1992-1996. (Fortney L, Basile, EBSCO Vantage Point Series, 1996) Since 1986, the average price per title has risen an overwhelming 213%. Fortney and Basile report that this increase per title was reflected in the average cost per title from $135.38 in 1986 to $423.69 in 1996. Vendors have estimated a 9-11% increase for 1997 subscriptions and 11-13% rise for 1998. At the current level of expenditures, more than $140,000 is required annually by the library to fund a 10% rate increase, excluding new titles.

For the first time since 1987, the library's information budget is not sufficient to sustain the costs of the current level of journal subscriptions. The library's recent decision to cancel subscriptions to print copies of Biological Abstracts, Biological Abstracts/RRM, and Chemical Abstracts will save approximately $31,000 a year. Anticipating more increases in subscription rates and the static situation of the information budget, the library sent a memorandum to all UMC faculty in December, outlining the problem and seeking input about which journals should be continued and which could be cancelled.

To help in this decision making process, library faculty carefully analyzed circulation and interlibrary loan use records and research impact factors as calculated by the Institute for Scientific Information and prepared a list of titles to consider for possible cancellation. Reference to the holdings of other health sciences libraries in the region revealed that very few of these libraries still subscribed to the suggested titles. Several marginal titles were also identified and included on the list. From the comments received, fifty-seven titles were cancelled for 1997. These cancellations are listed elsewhere in this issue.

Many factors influence journal price increases. Frequently, as the number of manuscript submissions and their acceptance rises, more pages are published. More pages result in higher costs for paper and printing. Manuscripts reviewed by peers and other editorial functions add to the price. Increased postage and packaging costs, a decrease in the number of subscriptions, general inflation, and foreign currency exchange rates also affect journal rates. To keep the number of pages constant, some publishers initiate new speciality or subspeciality journals. High startup costs are often assigned in part to other titles that the publisher produces. Because library subscriptions serve more than one reader, rates can be four to six times higher than individual subscriptions.

The library currently subscribes to approximately 2,330 titles, of which 230 cost $1,000 or more. The lists below note 15 of the library's most expensive journals and print indexes for 1997.

- J. Lucas

Romeo's Web

Continued development of the library's Web page provides access to new resources more efficiently and effectively. It serves as a filter for the explosion of electronic health sciences sources available on the Internet by conveniently organizing and creating hypertext links to quality research information. Through this service, the library offers expedient management of relevant knowledge to support the Medical Center's mission.

Direct access to the full text of Lancet and Telemedicine is now available in the "Electronic Journals" section on the Web page. New electronic reference titles searchable under the "Information Services" section are Webster's Dictionary, Bartlett's Quotations and Good Quotes by Famous People.

A new section "Health Hyperlinks" organizes access to electronic sources by broad subjects. Currently, various resources have been identified for health policy, health statistics, grants, consumer health and historical information. Most of the health sciences specialities will be added as this section is developed.

Links to Web sites are categorized by two new headings, "Browse Health Sites" and "Browse Other Sites" under "Additional Resources." Here users are directed to Web pages with multiple information sources and services. Several of the sites now accessible include the National Science Foundation, Government Printing Office, Library of Congress, National Library of Medicine and Nobel Prizes.

"Instant Updates" features the library's most recent announcements, forthcoming events, added services and sources, and news. Users are encouraged to consult this section on a weekly basis to keep informed about the many services which the library provides.

Enhancements save searchers time and trouble

Postqualification is a feature which allows the user to quickly modify an existing search using set numbers. The software translates the "shorthand" entry to an actual search, re-executing the search statement and posting results to the screen in a new search statement. Using postqualification makes it unnecessary to re-key long or complex search statements already posted to a set.

The following sequence of search statements illustrates basic postqualification with NLM Subject Headings. Set numbers are used to enter postqualification (the left column below), and the resulting search statement reflects the operation (right column below):

Postqualifying searches by limiting terms to specific parts of a citation such as the title is another new feature added to the enhanced database search engine.

When searching numerical indexes, such as the page, volume, issue/parts indexes, the user must enter the search term in quotes (" "), otherwise the system will interpret the digits as a postqualification statement. To find the author and title of the article given the following information, Nurse Practitioner. 1994; 19: 59-64:

Postqualification features modify, or limit, a search index and save time for the user when searching MEDLINE and other databases on the OVID system.

- A. Haaland

Serial title cancellations

Acta biotheoretica
Acta crystallographica (Sect. A) Foundations of crystallography
Acta crystallographica (Sect B) Structural science
Acta crystallographica (Sect C) Crystal structure communications
Actualities Odonto-stomatologiques
Anaesthesist
Annales de medecine interne
Annales de pathologie
Annales de pediatrie
Annales Francaises d'anesthesie et de reanimation
Antarctic journal of the U.S.
Archives des maladies du coeur et des vaisseaux

Biochemistry (Moscow, English translation)
Biological abstracts
Biological abstracts: reports, reviews, meetings
Biological bulletin
Bulletin of experimental biology & medicine (Moscow, English translation)
British journal of social psychology
Bulletin du cancer
Bulletin du groupement international...stomatologie & odontologie
Bulletin et memoires de l'academie royale ... de Belgique

Chemical abstracts
Chemical titles
Chirality
Comptes Rendus de seances de la Society de Biologie ...

Ebsco bulletin of serials changes
Environmental entomology

Genetica
Guy's hospital gazette

Helminthological abstracts

International news on oils, fats & related materials

Journal of animal ecology
Journal of AOAC International (Association of Official Analytical Chemists)
Journal of the Chemical Society. Perkins transactions I
Journal of evolutional biochemistry & physiology
Journal of helminthology
Journal of microcolumn separations

Langenbecks archiv feur chirurgie
Laryngo-rhino-otologie

Marine biology
Medicina (Argentina)
Medizinische klinik
Micron
Minerva medica

Nervenarzt
Nursing abstracts

Optical Society of America. Journal (Part A) Optics & image science
Optical Society of America. Journal (Part B) Optical physics

Presse medicale
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. (Part H) Journal of engineering in medicine

Review of medical & veterinary mycology

Schweizerische medizinische wochenschrift
Semaine de hopitaux

Theoretical & applied genetics
Transfusion clinique et biologique

Virus (Japan)

Wilderness & environmental medicine

Zahnarztliche mitteilungen
Zeitschrift feur naturfurschung (Series B) Journal of chemical sciences.

Focus on Friends

The first three months of 1997 have largely been spent planning. This especially busy time of year for the Friends culminates with National Library Week in mid-April during which there are many associated activities on campus hosted by Rowland Medical Library. The Dean Billy S. Guyton Lecture on the History of Medicine is the major event sponsored by the Friends.

The Fund Raising Committee, chaired by Dr. Bob Currier, held its organizational meeting in January to ensure a strong state-wide solicitation of funds to support the purpose of the Friends as stated in the Constitution. Members present included Brenda Melohn, Dr. Duane Haines, Dr. John Jackson, Dr. Maury Mahan, Dr. Barbara Rogers, and Dr. Garfield Tourney. Ex officio members Ada Seltzer and Hal White were also present. Committee members unable to attend his meeting included Dr. Peter Blake, Dr. Julius Cruse, Dr. Ed Draper, Dr. Robert Lewis, and Dr. Perry McGinnis.

A discussion by Brenda Melohn provided an overview of UMC fundraising procedures, investments, and endowments. Ada Seltzer reviewed the objectives of the endowment fund which included but are not limited to rare book purchases, the work of an archivist, the furthering of new technology so the library can remain state of the art, and help with upgrading staff skills and training. The committee identified the need for a fundraising brochure for distribution to alumni, current and past faculty, and other Friends.

According to Dr. Currier, "The Friends of the Library group is absolutely necessary to establish the library in a place of excellence among similar libraries and thereby benefit the Medical Center, future scholars and historians, students and staff." It was an enthusiastic meeting.

In February, the Executive Committee consisting of the three officers of the organization, the library director ex officio, and two at-large members (presently Maurine Twiss and Dr. Robert Lewis) met to plan National Library Week activities. There is not sufficient time to complete preparation of the Charter Member plaque before April, 1997. Presentation of the plaque is now scheduled for the fall.The videotape of the Second Guyton Lecture titled History of UMC and Medicine in Mississippi by Dr. David Sansing, Professor Emeritus of History and Historian of the University at the University of Mississippi, has been completed and is available for purchase.

Discussion focused on launching a new project on a trial basis for a paperback book sale for the UMC family as another fundraising effort. All UMC faculty, staff, and students will be contacted for book donations. Current fiction and nonfiction popular reading materials from a variety of subjects will be offered for sale according to value. The Executive Committee approved the trial for 1997 and scheduled the sale for Wednesday and Thursday, April 16 and 17.  All proceeds will benefit Rowland Medical Library.

The Membership Committee, chaired by Jeanette Waits, met in March to consider progress on the drive to increase recruitment of members and promote interest in the organization. Dr. Toni Bertolet has recently joined this committee. The committee decided to focus on continued updating of the database, revising the Friends brochure, and continuing contacts with the alumni. Special thanks to these Friends for contributing their talents and time to making the organization a strong advocate for the library.

Harlod B. White, Ph.D.

President, Friends of
Rowland Medical Library
Professor Emeritus of
Biochemistry

NEW MEMBERS

STUDENT/HOUSE STAFF

Evelyn Lilly

Leslie J. Dumas

INDIVIDUAL

Dr. James L. Moore, Jr.

Mary R. Whitten

Dr. Buford Yerger, Jr.

Dr. Cheng W. Yu

Linking the library with UMC's accounting system

A new interface between the library's acquisition module and the Accounting Department's CAS system has been developed by the library, with the help of the Information Systems Department and Accounting. Before the interface, ordering, receiving and invoicing data were manually keyed into both departments' systems. Information about each book and journal title (publisher, date, price, etc.) was entered into the acquisition component of the Horizon integrated library system, each title was linked to a specific fund in its fiscal year, purchase orders were printed out or sent electronically to the vendor, items were received on the system when they arrived (or claimed if they were not received within a designated time period), and shipments were invoiced for payment. After these steps, the library sent printed activity reports to Accounting where much of the same information was then re-keyed into the CAS system. The same jobs were being done twice.

In an attempt to reduce this duplication of effort, Accounting initiated a series of meetings with the library and Information Systems to determine if there was a way to electronically transfer the needed information from the library system into CAS. Required data fields were identified such as account number, date the report was run, purchase order number (associated with the item ordered), invoice (or statement) number and date, amount of the invoice, and prepaid amounts.

The library then began work to extract this data from a number of the library system's database tables. When all of the information was pulled together, and in some cases computed, it was stored as a file on a local library computer. With help from Information Systems, a method was established whereby this file of derived information pulled from the library server could be transferred to another server and then downloaded into CAS.

What takes only a few sentences to explain actually took many months to accomplish and, in fact, the process continues to be refined. A number of experimental trial runs were conducted to make certain that the library was pulling the information that Accounting needed and to feel confident that it was being transferred correctly. Each trial required a little more fine tuning on the extracting process. Accounting needed the library to input vendor numbers into the library records to provide accurate links for payment. Later, printed reports were requested from the library which would essentially provide a periodic summary of the items ordered but not yet received for both the current and prior years. Because this type of report was not provided by the library's system, it had to be developed in house.

Before a finished file is sent to Accounting, test files of the data are printed in the library. This allows library staff to check the data for accuracy and to make any needed corrections (for example, a missing vendor number) before forwarding the file to Information Systems for processing. The departments will probably continue to find various ways to improve aspects of the process, but it has already proved to be a benefit to Accounting. The new interface has allowed Accounting to dispense with many functions they would normally have to perform for the library account, thus saving considerable personnel time. Hopefully, there may also be less chance for error in the data that goes into CAS, since the need for manual re-keying of the data has been eliminated. Although a great deal of labor was expended by a number of individuals in developing the link, the new interface has proved itself a success and worth the effort.

- W. Morton

Rehabilitation and Handicapped Literature

Approximately 1,500 full-text items on handicapped and rehabilitation programs have been assembled into one easy-to-use microform collection, Rehabilitation and Handicapped Literature, by The National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) and are now available in the library. The base collection covers the years 1950-78, with updates available through 1987.

NARIC is the national research library which serves as both abstractor and indexer for all research reports and audiovisual materials sponsored by the National Institute of Handicapped Research. Featured are statistical surveys, case histories, and handbooks for the disabled. The materials span almost every aspect of physical and mental rehabilitation, including:

• Physical Disabilities/Behavioral Disorders: paraplegia, quadraplegia, amputation, mental illness, mental retardation, spinal cord injury, hearing and visual impairment, and more
• Rehabilitation Professionals and Techniques: administration, behavior modification, counseling, evaluation, occupational therapy, research utilization, speech therapy, and others
• Rehabilitation Facilities and Educational Programs: adult day-care centers, community-based rehabilitation, halfway houses, independent living programs, and multi-disability rehabilitation centers.

The microfiche are located in the Microform Room on the first floor of the library. Also available is Rehabilitation and Handicapped Literature, 1950-1978: A Bibliographic Guide to the Microfiche Edition, and supplements for each of the updates.

FAQs On File

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the library's resources are provided

here to assist users who have similar needs

"How long will it take to get my Interlibrary Loan?"

The interlibrary loan system functions on an international library-to-library lending and borrowing agreement to share information sources with external users. Participating libraries give priority to serving the information needs of their primary users first, before sharing sources with others. The time required to fill interlibrary loan requests varies according to the lending library's capability to process the number of requests it receives daily, the availability of the item requested, and the accuracy of the item identification. Photocopies of articles are usually received within 5-10 days from the date that the request is sent. The library processes requests within 24 hours and all borrowing requests are sent electronically to assure that users receive items as quickly as possible. Users may request that articles be received by fax, but there may be an additional charge.

"Where do I look to find a library that subscribes to a journal title we do not have?"

Libraries participating in the interlibrary loan system agree to assume certain responsibilities as lenders and borrowers. When borrowing materials, libraries are required to identify the appropriate holding library using specially developed print and electronic locator sources. Users do not need to know the locator source or holding library when placing an interlibrary loan request for a journal title the library does not own. Library staff perform these tasks as a part of the interlibrary loan service to UMC faculty, students and staff.

"Where is your list of journal titles so I can check to see if you have the ones on my reference list?"

The library does not have a printed list of journal titles and holdings. This information is now available through the online catalog which is searchable from terminals in the library, from remote dial access in the office or home, or from the Internet on the library's Web page. To find the journal titles and holdings available in the library, users should select the title alphabetical search option on the main screen in the online catalog. The complete journal title must be entered; abbreviations are not searchable. Upon selecting the correct title from the displayed list, holdings data can be retrieved by clicking on the "show detail" button followed by the "show copies" button. The display lists complete volume, issue and date for each item in the library collection.