Library Move to E-Journal Collection

Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library is very pleased to announce that, with the start of subscriptions for 2007, we have completed the 3-year change from a journal collection mainly in print, to one that is largely electronic. The exception to the “electronic-only” nature of Himmelfarb’s journals is the Browsing Collection, housed on the first floor on the 23rd Street side of the library. The Browsing Collection consists of approximately 148 titles designated, due to faculty feed-back and the use of other quality parameters, as titles users continue to want to browse in print. The current year’s issues of these titles are available on the first floor for browsing, and then are bound and moved to the second floor shelving. Approximately 70 other journal titles also remain available in print-only, as the titles do not yet have any electronic component. We will continue to monitor this group of titles, converting them to electronic format as access becomes available. These titles are moved directly to the second floor as they are received, and may be found alphabetically with other bound journals.

A number of advantages to electronic access to journal titles exist for both library users and the library itself. Individuals may consult the journal outside the library’s walls through the library’s homepage. For many who find it difficult to physically go to the library, this increased accessibility can be extremely helpful. It also provides additional access to titles which, while not previously a part of Himmelfarb’s journal collection, may be available in electronic-format-only free through open access and other similar mechanisms. Another advantage is that more than one user can consult a journal at any one time. For the library itself, the space required to keep copies of all back issues, and many management tasks associated with print journals are both reduced. While electronic journals cost as much or even more than print-only titles did, and there are issues when the electronic access goes down for technical reasons, the advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages.

During February, Himmelfarb Library will be focusing on our “new” largely electronic collection and holding events such as learning lunches to help library users better understand how to take full advantage of electronic journals. Please watch the library’s homepage and in-library publicity to find dates for specific events. The library staff looks forward to sharing our electronic journal knowledge with you and using this journal collection to the fullest.