Cooperative Journal Retention

ASERL has approved a policy for cooperatively retaining print journals as a means of optimizing collection management across the consortium.  The retention agreement is in effect through December 31, 2035.  A group of 24 ASERL libraries are retaining titles under this agreement.  The current working title list (*.xls spreadsheet) is available here (Updated: 05-13-2013).

In early 2013, ASERL and the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC) signed an agreement to combine the contents of their respective print journal archives under a single retention and access agreement.  The combined title list exceeds 8,000 journal titles and more than 250,000 volumes, making the ASERL-WRLC Archive one of the largest print journal repositories in the United States.  At the same time, WRLC and ASERL libraries have agreed to extend reciprocal priority Inter-Library Loan (ILL) services across the group.

To participate in the program, an ASERL library need only submit a concise letter of agreement signed by the library dean (or higher authority) affirming to comply with the program policies.
Sample Letter of Agreement

Journal Retention Program Update (Powerpoint, April 2013)

ASERL Journal Retention Steering Committee, Program Work Day, February 12, 2013
Meeting Minutes (pdf)
Introduction to WRLC’s Journal Archiving Program - Mark Jacobs/Bruce Hulse.   PowerPoint
Shared Print Management – Recommendations for Use of the MARC 583 to Document the ASERL Retention Agreement – Cheryle Cole-Bennett/John Burger.  PowerPoint

The following ASERL libraries are participating in this program:

  1. Auburn University
  2. College of William & Mary
  3. Duke University
  4. East Carolina University
  5. Emory University
  6. Georgia Tech
  7. Louisiana State University
  8. Mississippi State University
  9. North Carolina State University
  10. Tulane University
  11. University of Alabama
  12. University of Florida
  13. University of Kentucky
  14. University of Louisville
  15. University of Memphis
  16. University of Mississippi
  17. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  18. University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  19. University of South Carolina
  20. University of Tennessee
  21. University of Virginia
  22. Virginia Commonwealth University
  23. Virginia Tech
  24. Wake Forest University

The project’s Steering Committee is focused on the steps needed to implement this policy.  For more information about this effort, please contact John Burger.