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magazine usage criteria Reference Desk 22 May 2003 17:19 UTC

Hello all,
This is my first time posting to this list, though I have been reading for a while. It seems to be more of a forum for academic libraries, but I'm hoping someone can help me with my question from this humble mid-sized public library. :-)

I am in the process of evaluating and updating our magazine subscription list. We subscribe primarily to non academic magazines (Time, Newsweek, Cosmo, etc.). Faced with drastic budget cuts here in PA, I'm hoping to be able to weed out some of the lesser-used magazines. Does anyone know of a criteria for evaluating usage of magazines like these? How many check-outs per year is considered good, how many indicates we should drop the subscription? What are some core magazines that no self-respecting public library should be without? Any and all suggestions/references will be greatly appreciated!!

Michelle A. Hawk
Head of Reference
Lebanon Community Library
125 North 7th Street
Lebanon, PA 17046
(717) 273-7624
Fax: (717) 273-2719