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Serials are publications in any medium which are issued in successive parts and do not have a set date for ceasing publication. Serials include professional journals, newspapers, magazines, annuals, indexing, services, and numbered monographic series.

Because serials represent an ongoing financial commitment from the library, such publications are considered for addition only once a year. The library’s Collection Management/Development Committee is responsible for evaluating serial titles for potential addition to the library’s collection. The review process by which serials are evaluated varies from year to year depending on such variables as overall serials price increases and budget increases/cuts. The annual review process generally begins at the start of the spring semester and is completed by the end of the spring semester. Any serial publications that are added as a result of the review process, as well as cancellations, are normally effective in January of the following calendar year. Requestors should remember that because of the ongoing expense of all serials, the purchase of a new title might require the cancellation of an existing subscription.

Although serials are considered for addition only once a year, recommendations for new titles may be made at any time by sending them to the Collection Management Librarian at the library. If possible, such recommendations should be accompanied by a sample issue of the requested title or at the very least an advertisement or brochure. The Collection Management Librarian will keep such recommendations on file until the annual serials review process is begun. At that time, all recommendations will be reviewed by the library’s Collection Management/Development staff and the Reference librarians in consultation with the appropriate academic departments. If it is determined that a new subscription can be started only if an existing subscription is cancelled, librarians will make recommendations to the requestor regarding trade-offs and seek agreement from other members of the academic department before any action is taken. Recommendations for new titles that cannot be readily verified by library staff will not be considered for addition.

If you have any questions about adding or canceling serial titles, or about serials in general, please call the Collection Management/Development librarian at 330-325-6621 or send e-mail to lma@neoucom.edu.

Updated 08/05/05