The Kraemer Family Library is currently reviewing its bound periodicals as part of an ongoing print collection evaluation. Read on to learn more about the project, including how we will decide which bound periodicals to withdraw, what will happen to the print volumes once they are removed from the collection, and how we intend to use the empty space this project will create in the library.

Background of the project

For more than a decade, the Kramer Family Library has primarily subscribed to journals and other periodicals online, only subscribing to print journals when they were unavailable online or included graphical content best viewed in print. In 2015, the library began removing many of the print journals that were accessible online. At that time, more than half of the bound print journal collection was cleared to make room for more collaborative study spaces. Since then, the library has continued to purchase more access to online journal archives, allowing it to continue its removal of unnecessary print journals.

How will you select the bound periodicals for withdrawal?

The library is currently only withdrawing titles that are duplicated online in stable online archives. In most cases the library has purchased the online archives with perpetual access or has license agreements to access full archives with current subscriptions that the library is committed to maintaining. In a few cases, the archives have been made freely available online in an open access archive.

The library is not removing any bound periodicals that are not duplicated in our online collections. It is also maintaining bound periodicals where the library is not certain that it will be able to maintain online access in the future. Finally, it is maintaining print access where the quality of the online material is considered insufficient (for example where PDFs are not available) or in cases where the materials include important graphical content (art journals or titles like National Geographic).

What’s happening to the bound periodicals that are removed?

There is not significant demand for bound periodicals archives at other libraries because most are also reducing their bound periodical collections to free space for other uses. There is also not a need to move these titles to off-site storage as most are already available in the PASCAL Off-Site storage, having already been removed from the main libraries at CU Boulder and Denver campuses. As a result, the bound periodicals will be recycled in a responsible manner.

What will the empty space be used for?

Removing these bound periodicals will free up additional space in the group collaborative area by the University Center entrance to the library. The empty space will allow us to spread out the furniture in the collaborative area so it’s not so crowded and will free up space for several additional tables for group study. 

When will the project be complete?

The library has elected to undertake this project during the summer to minimize the impact on students studying in the popular spaces around the bound periodicals collection. The project is planned for completion before classes resume in the fall.

You answered lots of questions, but not mine!

If you have additional questions about this project, please contact Martin Garnar, Dean of the Kraemer Family Library, at mgarnar@uccs.edu or 719-255-3115.