Acquisition of monographic series

Library Acquisitions: Practice & Theory, Vol. 15, pp. 313-327, 1991 Printed in the USA. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON

0364~6408/91 $3.00 + .OO Copyright 0 1991 Pergamon Press plc

CONFERENCE 1990

ACQUISITION OF MONOGRAPHIC

SERIES

Approval Plan Versus Standing Order MARTIN WARZALA User Project Coordinator Approval Program/Continuations

Service

System Development Project Baker & Taylor Books 50 Kirby Avenue Somerville, NJ 08876

The demands placed on library acquisitions and collection management resources by serial publications have been well documented. Inflation, proliferation of serial publishing in various formats, unfavorable currency exchange rates, and differential pricing have been factors. These situations have been addressed in libraries by cancellation of selected serials, limiting the establishment of new standing orders or subscriptions, resource sharing, and/or individual and organized protests directed at specific publishers. One type of serial, the monographic series, lends itself to an approach that facilitates the acquisition of books published in this format, in a manner that is financially responsible and closely related to a library’s collection management needs. Rather than acquiring monographic series by standing orders, in which acquisition is a function of series title, approval plans can provide a more qualitative approach. In this article I will define and characterize monographic series, represent the merits and weaknesses of standing orders and approval plans as acquisition methods for books published in this serial format, and present data acquired by case studies of a representative sample of monographic series in various subject disciplines, to support contentions relative to the method of acquisition. Monographic series are defined as “a group of separate items related to one another by the fact that each item bears in addition to its own title proper, a collective title applying to the group as a whole. The individual item may or may not be numbered” [l]. With the exception of sets with a designated limit, monographic series usually continue indefinitely. It is also an accepted premise that the individual items issued in monographic series are related in some degree by the subject described by the series title. Following the same logic, the level of readership of titles issued within monographic series is presumed to be consistent as well. In addition to describing the contents of titles issued in monographic series, publishers utilize series titles to generate sales. Although there is nothing wrong with this, in recent times, these marketing efforts, as well as library acquisitions practices for the format, have generated criticism. James C. Thompson noted that: 313

314

M. WARZALA These publishers know their market well and they take full advantage of it. They have discovered that library procedures and files are biased in favor of continuing orders, so they publish most of their monographs in numbered series. Cancellation or interruption of numbered series is not only procedurally inconvenient, but goes against the grain for librarians and generates resistance from faculty. Publishers may even market the same series volumes under different titles in different countries so libraries unknowingly purchase multiple copies [2].

Feldman et al. cited remarks made by a representative of a large, prestigious, domestic university press, which contribute to a negative image of the quality of some monographic series. In an article reporting on the 1990 meeting of the American Association of University Presses, comments made by this individual “provoked peals of laughter” when he/she described the success of a new series launched two years ago by repackaging existing monographic titles in paperback and giving them a series title. This individual noted that the series was referred to by the staff of this university press as “real science by real scientists for real dummies.” The cited university press representative went on to state that “there were other benefits. We were approached by a British publisher wanting to buy reprint rights to our ‘new’ series . . .” [3]. A standing order instructing a vendor or agent to supply all titles issued in a selected series is a traditional method employed in libraries to acquire monographic series. Depending upon the organization of a library’s acquisitions and serials management functions, the advantages of using standing orders include comprehensive fulfillment and monitoring of all titles issued within selected series; timeliness of fulfillment; and separate ordering, claiming, delivery, invoicing, and reporting. Monographic series may also be subject to the supposedly special problems and unique character referred to as the “serials mystique” necessitating special handling: Serials are remarkably like people in that they are born, change names, marry, divorce, have off-spring, and finally die. Serials also have been known to come back from the dead and resume living, often in a different format or with a different focus. As changing entities, serials are inherently more complex and subsequently more difficult to handle (41.

Though acquisition of monographic series via standing order may support serials management functions, I believe that there is an inherent weakness in this method. A library may overemphasize the means of acquisitions rather than the content of the individual issues of monographic series, which may not support institutional needs. Furthermore, this weakness may be exacerbated if the subjects of the titles issued in a series are not reflected in the descriptive series title, and/or if the intended level of readership is inconsistent. Using approval plans as a gathering mechanism to support the acquisition of monographic series, instead of standing orders, may be an appropriate method to address these mentioned concerns. In 1987, Alessi and Goforth proposed a method such as an approval standing order in which all titles issued in a monographic series would be supplied to a library for book-inhand review. Though this may support scrutiny of issues in monographic series, it will require review of books outside the scope of a library’s approval profile, which, in theory, represents a library’s collection management needs. This method may contribute to an inefficient application of library personnel required to review and reject material received on approval, or, continue a cycle of conditioned response characterized by acquisition of titles issued in monographic series based on series title rather than by content and/or intended level of readership. The traditional approval plan based on subject and nonsubject parameters would facilitate a more efficient application of staff than the approval standing order. Book-in-hand review would be required only for material that matches and is supplied by the approval profile. The

315

Acquisition of Monographic Series

merits of acquisition of monographic series on approval plans in comparison to standing orders were summarized by Alessi and Goforth: Only titles which match subject and non-subject definitions will be sent to the library. It is not uncommon for a library to have a standing order for a series which has outlived its subject usefulness, or which may publish some volumes that are out of the scope of a library’s collection. If a library has a standing order, it must accept and pay for the title, whether or not it is useful. Receiving series titles via the approval plan ensures that the titles meet the library’s needs. The library has a return and reject privilege with the approval plan. Series may change direction over a number of years or quality may decline. When a title is received on standing order. the volume is simply processed without quality evaluation. Receiving titles on the approval plan allows a library to evaluate the quality of the volume in a series [S].

To further examine this issue, I have analyzed a sample of monographic series and all of the titles issued within them in the time period January 1980 to October 1990. Titles in the sample were supplied and available to Baker & Taylor Books’ Approval Program and/or Continuations Services clientele. For each of the cases I have noted the type of publisher and described the series title based on key words in, and/or descriptive of, the series title. I have kept the actual publisher and series title anonymous. I have examined frequency of publication and price of titles issued; subject, based on authoritative Library of Congress Classification; and intended level of readership, based on the standards of the Baker & Taylor Books’ Approval Program (see Appendix 1). All prices noted reflect those of the date of initial shipment and are not necessarily current prices. CASE 1 The active, irregular, numbered, monographic series examined in case 1 is published by a domestic commercial press. The key word from the series title is SCIENCE. From January 1986 to October 1990 there have been 21 titles issued at an average price of $32.09 per title and a total price of $673.95 (see Table 1A). The classification range of this monographic series is very diverse, from BH to TP, the majority appearing in the zoology ranges (see Table 1B). The intended levels of readership of the titles issued in the series are distributed from the General to Undergraduate levels, 55% occurring at the General level (see Table 1C).

TABLE 1A PRICE AND FREQUENCY

Year

Titles Issued per Year

Average Price ($) per Title by Year

Total Price ($) per Year

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

1 6 7 4 3

29.95 30.45 32.95 32.95 32.95

29.95 182.70 230.65 131.80 98.85

4.76 28.51 33.33 19.05 14.29

4.44 27.11 34.22 19.56 14.67

Total

21

32.09

673.95

100.00

100.00

M. WARZALA

316

TABLE 1B LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION

Class Range BH, Aesthetics Fl421-F1577, History of Central America GB, Physical Geography QA440-QA699, Geometry QB, QB500-QB991, Astronomy; Descriptive Astronomy QB274-QB373, Geodesy

Titles Issued per LC Class Range

Total

Total Price ($) per LC Class Range

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

29.95

29.95

4.16

4.44

32.95 32.95 32.95

32.95

32.95 32.95

4.76 4.76 4.76

4.89 4.89 4.89

30.45 32.95

60.90 32.95

9.52 4.76

9.04 4.89

27.95

21.95

4.76

4.15

32.95 32.95 32.95 32.95 32.95

32.95

32.95 32.95 32.95 32.95

4.76 4.76 4.76 4.76 4.76

4.89 4.89 4.89 4.89 4.89

2

32.95

65.90

9.52

9.78

2

32.95

65.90

9.52

9.78

1

32.95

32.95

4.76

4.89

1

32.95

32.95

4.16

4.89

1 1

32.95 21.95

32.95

27.95

4.16 4.76

4.89 4.15

21

32.09

673.95

100.00

100.00

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

1

QCl70-QC197, Atomic Physics QD450-QD73 1, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry QE420-QE499, Petrology QE701-QE996, Paleontology QHSOl-QH531, Life QL, Zoology QL750-QLl95, Animal Behavior and Psychology QP351-QP494, Neurophysiology; Neuropsychology RM300-RM666, Drugs and Their Actions TA401-TA492, Materials of Engineering and Construction TKSlOl-TK6720, Telecommunications TP, Chemical Technology

Average Price ($) per Title by LC Class Range

TABLE 1C INTENDED READERSHIP LEVEL

Level General General Supplementary Select General Supplementary Undergraduate Undergraduate Select Undergraduate Total

Titles Issued per Level

Average Price (S) per Title by Level

Total Price ($) per Level

1 11

32.95 31.31

32.95 344.45

4.76 52.38

4.89 51.11

7 2

32.95 32.95

230.65 65.90

33.33 9.52

34.22 9.78

21

32.09

673.95

100.00

100.08

317

Acquisition of Monographic Series

CASE 2 This active, irregular, numbered, monographic series is published by a university press headquartered in the United Kingdom. Key words from and describing the series title are LATIN AMERICA. From January 1980 to October 1990 there have been 34 titles issued at an average price of $43.13 per title and a total price of $1,466.45 (see Table 2A). The subject breakdown is very diverse, spread from classifications BX to K, most frequently occurring in Latin American history ranges (see Table 2B). The range of the intended levels of readership are Undergraduate to Graduate, with the highest frequency, 65%, occurring at the Graduate level (see Table 2C).

TABLE 2A PRICE AND FREQUENCY

Year

Titles Issued per Year

Average Price ($) per Title by Year

Total Price ($) per Year

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

1980 1989 1982 1983 1984

2 1 4 3 4

34.50 44.50 44.00 47.17 39.61

69.00 44.50 176.00 141.50 158.45

5.88 2.94 11.76 8.82 11.76

4.71 3.03 12.00 9.65 10.81

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

3 7 2 7 0 1

42.17 47.07 37.00 43.50

126.50 329.50 74.00 304.50

8.82 20.59 5.88 20.59

8.63 22.47 5.05 20.76

42.50

42.50

2.94

2.90

Total

34

43.13

1,466.45

100.00

100.00

TABLE 2B LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION

Class Range BX800-BX4795, Roman Catholic Church D501-D680, World War I Fl201-F1392, History, Mexico Fl401-F1419, History, Latin America (General) F2251-F3619, History, Columbia; Venezuela; Argentina; Peru

Titles Issued per LC Class Range

RANGE

Average Price (%) Total Price ($) per Title by per LC LC Class Range Class

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

1 1 5

44.50 42.50 42.50

44.50 42.50 212.50

2.94 2.94 14.71

3.03 2.90 14.49

1

49.50

49.50

2.94

3.38

4

39.75

159.00

11.76

10.84

318

M. WARZALA

TABLE 2B Continued

Class Range HB879-HB3700, Demography HC, Economic History and Conditions HDlOl-HD1395, Land HD1401-HD2210, Agricultural Economics HD3611-HD4730, The State and Industrial Organization HD4801-HD8942, Labor HD9000-HD9999, Special Industries and Trades HN, Social History HT601-HT1445, Social Classes HX, Socialism JL, Political Science, British America; Latin America K, Law, Mexico Total

Titles Issued per LC Class Range

Undergraduate Undergraduate Select Undergraduate

Total Price ($) per LC Class

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

1

42.50

42.50

2.94

2.90

2 3

49.50 37.32

99.00 111.95

5.88 8.82

6.75 7.63

1

49.50

49.50

2.94

3.38

1 5

42.50 42.30

42.50 211.50

2.94 14.71

2.90 14.42

4 1 1 1

48.25 42.50 44.50 39.50

193.00 42.50 44.50 39.50

11.76 2.94 2.94 2.94

13.16 2.90 3.03 2.69

1 1

42.50 39.50

42.50 39.50

2.94 2.94

2.90 2.69

34

43.13

1.466.45

100.00

100.00

% of Total Titles

Vo of Total Price

INTENDED

Level

Average Price ($) per Title by LC Class Range

Titles Issued per Level

TABLE 2C READERSHIP Average Price ($) per Title by Level

LEVEL Total Price ($) per Level

9 3

42.39 47.17

381.50 141.50

26.47 8.82

26.02 9.65

Graduate Graduate Select Graduate

17 5

43.06 42.30

731.95 211.50

50.00 14.71

49.91 14.42

Total

34

43.13

1466.45

100.00

100.00

CASE 3 This active, irregular, numbered, monographic series is published by a domestic think tank that is a member of the American Association of University Presses. Key words from and/or describing the series title are HISTORY, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, POLITICAL

319

Acquisition of Monographic Series

HISTORY, PUBLIC POLICY, and SOCIAL ISSUES. From January 1984 to October 1990, there have been 107 titles issued at an average price of $25.98 per title and a total price of $2,779.80 (see Table 3A). Treated in this monographic series is a true serial, which would be included in a standing order. Issues of the serial treated within the series average twice the price of the other titles issued in the series. This series covers the classification ranges D to Z with the highest frequency occurring in HX (see Table 3B).

TABLE 3A PRICE AND FREQUENCY Year

Titles Issued per Year

Average Price ($) per Title

Total Price (%) per Year

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

19 15 23 17 13 8 12

26.16 22.35 23.50 30.60 27.57 29.83 28.04

450.60 335.25 540.40 520.15 358.35 238.60 336.45

17.76 14.02 21.50 15.89 12.15 7.48 11.21

16.21 12.06 19.44 18.71 12.89 8.58 12.10

Total

107

25.98

2,779.80

108.00

109.00

TABLE 3B LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION

Class Range D731-D838, History, WWII DA20-DA690, DD, DJK, History, England; Germany; Eastern Europe DK, History, Russia; Poland; Finland DS, History, Asia DT, History, Africa E184-El85, History, Elements of U.S. Population E740-, History, U.S. 20th Century FlCOl-1419, History, British America; Canada; Latin America HB, Economic Theory HB3711-HB3840, Crisis; Business Cycles

Titles Issued per LC Class Range

Average Price (S) per Title by LC Class Range

RANGE

Total Price (S) per LC Class Range

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

2

22.95

45.90

1.87

1.65

3

21.62

64.85

2.80

2.33

13 7 6

25.72 23.24 23.28

334.35 162.65 139.70

12.15 6.54 5.61

12.03 5.85 5.03

1

24.50

24.50

0.93

0.88

4

29.20

116.80

3.74

4.20

2 4

16.95 31.34

33.90 125.35

1.87 3.74

1.22 4.51

1

19.95

19.95

0.93

0.72 continued

320

M. WARZALA

TABLE 3B Continued

Class Range HC, Economic History and Conditions HDl-HD91, Production HD2709-HD2930, Corporations HD361 l-HD4730, The State and Industrial Organization HD4801-HD8942, Labor HD9000-HD9999, Special Industries and Trades HF, Commerce HG201-HG3542, Money; Banking HJ2240-HJ5957, Revenue; Taxation HQ503-HQ1064, The Family; Marriage HV6001-HV9920, Criminology; Penology HX, Socialism, Communism; Anarchism JC501-JC628, Purpose, Functions, and Relations of the State JL, Government, British America; Latin America JN, Government, Europe JQ, Government, Asia; Africa; Australia; Oceania JS, Local Government JX1305-JX1896, International Relations; Diplomacy JX1901-JX1995, International Arbitration KF, Federal Law LA, History of Education LB1555-LB1602, Elementary or Public School Education LC1390-LC5158, Education of Special Classes of Persons PG2001-PG3987, Language and Literature, Russian U-UC, VA, Military Science 25051-27199, Subject Bibliographies Total

Titles Issued per LC Class Range

Average Price ($) per Title by LC Class Range

Total Price ($) per LC Class Range

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

5 2

28.95 21.98

144.75 43.95

4.67 1.87

5.21 1.58

1

20.95

20.95

0.93

0.75

2 1

30.95 21.95

61.90 21.95

1.87 0.93

2.23 0.79

1 1

9.95 19.95

9.95 19.95

0.93 0.93

0.36 0.72

3

24.62

73.85

2.80

2.66

1

7.95

7.95

0.93

0.29

1

35.95

35.95

0.93

1.29

2

24.95

49.90

1.87

1.80

11

42.68

469.45

10.28

16.89

I

16.95

16.95

0.93

0.61

1

24.95

24.95

0.93

0.90

3

12.62

37.85

2.80

1.36

4 1

28.20 31.95

112.80 31.95

3.74 0.93

4.06 1.15

3

22.95

68.85

2.80

2.48

1 2

14.95 42.95

14.95 85.90

0.93 1.87

0.54 3.09

2

23.45

46.90

1.87

1.69

2

24.95

49.90

1.87

1.80

1

8.95

8.95

0.93

0.32

1 10

19.95 20.85

19.95 208.50

0.93 9.35

0.72 7.50

1

22.95

22.95

0.93

0.83

107

25.98

2,779.80

100.00

100.00

321

Acquisition of Monographic Series

INTENDED Titles Issued per Level

Level General Supplementary

TABLE 3C READERSHIP

LEVEL

Average Price (%) per Title Total Price ($) by Level per Level

070of Total Titles

% of Total Price

1

16.95

16.95

0.93

0.61

Undergraduate Undergraduate Select Undergraduate

19 25

23.24 29.93

441.65 748.30

11.16 23.36

15.89 26.92

Graduate Graduate Select Graduate

52 10

26.03 21.95

1,353.40 219.50

48.60 9.35

48.69 7.90

107

25.98

2,179.80

100.00

100.00

Total

CASE 4 The active, irregular, numbered, monographic series examined in case 4 is published by a domestic medical/professional publisher. Key words from the series title are ADULTHOOD and AGING. From January 1981 to October 1990 there have been 18 titles issued at an average price of $22.67 per title and a total price of $408.10 (see Table 4A). The classification range of the titles treated within this series is from GV to RC. The highest frequency, 61%, appears in the applied social science range (see Table 4B). Volumes in this series are distributed from Undergraduate to Graduate intended levels of readership, the majority, 70070,at the Graduate level (see Table 4C).

TABLE 4A PRICE AND FREQUENCY

Year 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

Titles Issued per Year 2 1 1

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Total

18

Average Price ($) per Title by Year

Total Price (S) per Year

20.45 17.95 21.95

40.90 17.95 21.95

11.11 5.56 5.56

10.02 4.40 5.38

24.95

74.85

16.67

18.34

22.95 15.95 23.62 25.95 19.95

22.95 15.95 141.70 51.90 19.95

5.56 5.56 33.33 11.11 5.56

5.62 3.91 34.72 12.72 4.89

22.67

408.10

100.00

100.00

070of Total Titles

% of Total Price

322

M. WARZALA

TABLE 4B LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION

Class Range GV201-GV555, Physical Training HQ503-HQ1064, The Family (Aged) HV697-HV4959, Protection Assistance and Relief

Titles Issued per LC Class Range

Average Price (S) per Title by LC Class Range

Total Price (S) per LC Class Range

2

19.95

39.90

11.11

9.78

4

24.45

97.80

22.22

23.96

21.95

153.65

38.89

37.65

24.95 19.95

49.90 19.95

11.11 5.56

12.23 4.89

21.95 24.95

21.95 24.95

5.56 5.56

5.38 6.11

22.67

408.10

100.00

100.00

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

QP, Physiology RA, Medicine (General) RC321-RC576, Neurology and Psychiatry RC952-RC954, Geriatrics Total

18

INTENDED

Level

Titles Issued per Level

TABLE 4C READERSHIP

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

LEVEL

Average Price ($) per Title by Level

Total Price ($) per Level

Undergraduate Undergraduate Select Undergraduate

3 1

22.28 19.95

66.85 19.95

16.67 5.56

16.38 4.89

Professional

2

19.95

39.90

11.11

9.78

Graduate Graduate Select Graduate

11 1

23.13 26.95

254.45 26.95

61.11 5.56

62.35 6.60

Total

18

22.67

408.10

100.00

109.00

CASE 5 This active, irregular, numbered, monographic series is published by a European scientific, technical, and medical publisher. Key words and terms from and descriptive of the series title are SOLID-STATE and PHYSICS. From January 1980 to October 1990 there have been 83 titles issued in this series at an average price of $45.52 per title and a total price of $3,778.05 (see Table 5A). The range of classifications of the titles issued in this series is QA to QD, with 76% in the ranges for Atomic Physics or Electricity and Magnetism (see Table 5B). The range of intended levels of readership is narrow: 98% of the titles issued in this series are intended for a Graduate level audience (see Table 5C).

323

Acquisition of Monographic Series

TABLE 5A PRICE AND FREQUENCY Titles Issued per Year

Average Price (%) per Title by Year

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988

5 7 8 9 10 10 3 6 9 10 6

48.62 34.89 38.15 31.50 36.65 31.70 58.50 54.75 60.07 61.55 59.74

243.10 244.20 305.20 283.50 366.50 317.00 175.50 328.50 540.60 615.50 358.45

6.02 8.43 9.64 10.84 12.05 12.05 3.61 7.23 10.84 12.05 7.23

6.43 6.46 8.08 7.50 9.70 8.39 4.65 8.69 14.31 16.29 9.49

Total

83

45.52

3,778.05

100.00

100.00

Year

Vo of Total Titles

Total Price (S) per Year

% of Total Price

TABLE 5B LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION RANGE

Class Range QA81 l-QA939, Analytical Mechanics QCl70-QCl97. Atomic Physics QCSOl-QC766, Electricity and Magnetism QD241-QD441, Organic Chemistry QD450-QD73 1, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry QD901-QD999, Crystallography Total

Titles Issued per LC Class Range

Average Price (S) per Title by LC Class Range

Total Price ($) per LC Class Range

2 37

42.00 45.40

84.00 1,679.70

2.41 44.58

2.22 44.46

29

41.91

1,215.45

34.94

32.17

3

55.57

166.70

3.61

4.41

3 9

42.17 56.19

126.50 505.70

3.61 10.84

3.35 13.39

83

45.52

3,778.05

100.00

100.00

% of Total Titles

Vo of Total Price

Vo of Total Titles

Vo of Total Price

TABLE 5C INTENDED READERSHIP LEVEL

Level

Titles Issued per Level

Average Price (S) per Title by Level

Total Price ($) per Level

2

39.00

78.00

2.41

2.06

Graduate Graduate Select Graduate

73 8

43.64 46.00

3,332.05 368.00

87.95 9.64

88.19 9.74

Total

83

45.52

3,778.05

100.00

100.00

Undergraduate

324

M. WARZALA CASE 6

This active, irregular, unnumbered, monographic series is published by a domestic scientific, technical, and medical publisher. Key words in, or descriptive of, the series title are MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. From January 1980 to the present, 24 titles have been issued in the series at an average price of $58.33 per title and a total price of $1400 (see Table 6A). The range of classifications for the titles issued in this series is QD to SB, 65% in the ranges for Physiology and Animal Biochemistry (see Table 6B). All of the titles in this series are intended for the Graduate level of readership.

TABLE 6A PRICE AND FREQUENCY

Year

Titles Issued per Year

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987

2 2 7 6 2 3

Total

Average Price ($) per Title by Year

Total Price ($) per Year

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

1

52.00 66.75 50.36 56.83 40.00 76.33 85.00 75.00

104.00 133.50 352.50 341.00 80.00 229.00 85.00 75.00

8.33 8.33 29.17 25.00 8.33 12.50 4.17 4.17

7.43 9.54 25.18 24.36 5.71 16.36 6.07 5.36

24

58.33

1,400.OO

100.00

100.00

1

TABLE 6B LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION

Class Range

Titles Issued per LC Class Range

RANGE

Average Price (%) Total Price ($) per Title by per LC LC Class Range Class Range

voof Total Titles

% of Total Price

QD241-QD441, Organic Chemistry QH426-QH470, Genetics QP, Physiology (General) QP501 -QPSOl , Animal Biochemistry QR75-QR99, Bacteria SB599-SB999, Diseases and Pests

3 2 2

66.50 57.25 39.75

199.50 114.50 79.50

12.50 8.33 8.33

14.25 8.18 5.68

14 2 1

60.29 46.50 69.50

844.00 93.00 69.50

58.33 8.33 4.17

60.29 6.64 4.96

Total

24

58.33

1400.00

100.00

100.00

325

Acquisition of Monographic Series

INTENDED

TABLE 6C READERSHIP

LEVEL

Titles Issued per Level

Average Price ($) per Title by Level

Total Price ($) per Level

Graduate Graduate Select Graduate

23 1

59.52 31.00

1,369.OO 31.00

95.83 4.17

91.79 2.21

Total

24

58.33

1,400.00

100.00

100.00

Level

% of Total Titles

% of Total Price

SUMMARY CASE REVIEW Only cases 5 and 6, series in hard science topics from domestic and European STM publishers, have a limited scope, as indicated by the narrow range of Library of Congress Classification of titles issued in the monographic series, the relationship of classification to the series title, and the focus to readership at the Graduate level. The qualitative approval review process may be unnecessarily labor-intensive for titles in series such as these. Cases 1 through 4 display characteristics that may make them suitable candidates for acquisitions via approval plan rather than standing order. In general, these cases were diverse in subject as indicated by the ranges of the Library of Congress Classification of titles treated within the respective series. Judged by the same criteria, the subjects of many titles issued in the series examined in cases 1 through 4 were well outside any possible description provided by series title. They were equally diverse as judged by the intended level of readership. In conclusion, titles treated within monographic series may be in diverse subject areas not necessarily within the scope of the series title. The intended levels of readership of titles issued within monographic series may be very broad. Standing orders are very efficient for acquisition and serials management functions and support effective collection management for monographic series in which titles issued are closely related to the description provided by the series title; are published in reasonably close classification ranges; and are directed consistently at the same level of readership. Serials management may be the only benefit of using standing orders to acquire monographic series in which titles issued are diverse in subject and/or readership level or in cases where the subjects of titles issued are not within the descriptive character of the series title. The value of acquiring all titles issued in a monographic series may be questionable in light of professional concerns regarding the bias toward continuing orders without qualitative evaluation. Monographic series that are inconsistent in quality, scope, subject, and/or intended level of readership may be acquired in a more rational manner using approval plans. An institution that utilizes approval plans instead of standing orders to acquire monographic series will have to escape series title fixation. The cost and benefits of the serial check-in and management functions, traditionally performed without qualitative review of receipts by support staff, must be weighed against the qualitative review of receipts characteristic of approval processing, traditionally performed by professional level selectors, bibliographers, and/or teaching faculty.

326

M. WARZALA REFERENCES

1. Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd ed., 1988 Revision, Chicago: American Library Association, 1988, p. 622. 2. Thompson, James C. “Confronting the Serials Cost Problem.” Serials Review 15, (1989), 43. 3. Feldman, Gayle, Chandler B. Grannis, and Daisy Maryles. “AAUP 1990.” Publishers Weekly 237 (August 3, 1990), 19. 4. Puccio, Joseph A. Serials Reference Work. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, p. 4. 5. Alessi, Dana L. and Kathleen Goforth. “Standing Orders and Approval Plans: Are They Compatible.” The Serials Librarian 13 (October/November 1987), 37. 6. Approval Program Users Manual, Baker & Taylor Books, 1986, pp. 7-12.

APPENDIX

1

The breakdowns of intended levels of readership in this paper are based on the Academic Level modifiers of Baker and Taylor Books’ Approval program as they were applied to the titles issued in the monographic series which were examined. The scope of the terms are noted below. Extracurricular: This level code has two purposes: 1. it is used for those types of books, such as fiction and poetry, that are comprehensively selected; 2. it is used for books that have no curricular orientation, but do provide recreational reading for the academic community. General Supplementary: Works of light scholarship and popular or journalistic style that can provide background into curricular subjects. These books are distinguished from extracurricular in that they deal with traditional curriculum subjects. They are distinguished from Undergraduate (or Graduate) in that they have been written primarily for the layman rather than the student or researcher. Others in the level are written for the student as supportive rather than primary material. Select General Supplementary: Titles that in the judgment of the Approval Program Librarians/Specialists, are the better, most likely to be reviewed and visible titles in which the treatment is popular or journalistic in nature. This level code functions as a subset of the General Supplementary level. Its application is an indicator of the selector’s judgement that it is among the better popular or layman-oriented works. Undergraduate: Works of solid scholarship in subjects normally taught in curricula leading to bachelor level degrees. Select Undergraduate: Undergraduate level works which in the judgement of the Approval Program Librarians/Specialists, are more visible and salient titles. This level code functions as a subset of the Undergraduate level. Its application is a subjective and qualitative decision on the part of the selector. Professional: Materials directed at the practicing specialist in the field. Graduate: Works of in-depth scholarship in subjects normally taught in curricula at any stage after the bachelor’s degree.

Acquisition of Monographic Series

321

Select Graduate: Graduate level works that in the judgement of the Approval Program Librarians/Specialists, are more visible and salient titles. This level code functions as a subset of the Graduate level. Its application is a subjective and qualitative decision on the part of the selector [6]. For the case narratives in this presentation, Extracurricular, General Supplementary, and Select General Supplementary are combined and categorized as General; Undergraduate and Select Undergraduate are combined and categorized as Undergraduate; Professional remains as defined by the Baker & Taylor Books’ Approval Program; and Graduate and Select Graduate are combined and categorized as Graduate.