This is troubling news.  We do use the lists for comparing print to JSTOR
holdings, but we generally also check the actual site for contents prior
to withdrawing additional years of print.

Could you share just a couple more titles and holdings that are an example
of the problem you found?

Diane

Diane Paldan
Serials/Preservation
Materials Processing & Preservation
Technical Services

135 Science and Engineering Library
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI  48202

(313) 577-0222

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Chris Bulock
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 12:34 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR Excel Download--Coverage Dates Wrong

While I don't make extensive use of that list, similar problems are
affecting the information JSTOR has provided Ex Libris for SFX (and I
would
have to assume other knowledgebase vendors). There has been a substantial
conversation on the SFX-DISCUSS-L email list
(https://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=SFX-DISCUSS-L) with a message from
Ex
Libris saying they were working with JSTOR on correcting the problem. With
any luck, JSTOR will also take the opportunity to correct the Excel
download
you mentioned.

Chris Bulock
Electronic Resources Librarian
Lovejoy Library
SIUe
cbulock@siue.edu
618.650.2422

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Cheryl L. Conway
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 10:18 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR Excel Download--Coverage Dates Wrong

Ms. Farley:

Our web services librarian also uses this list.
We would be very interested to read any
response you receive from the JSTOR Support
Team.   Could you post to this list?

Thank you,

Cheryl

Cheryl L. Conway
Head, Technical Services
Room 214-C
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Ave.
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701-4002
phone:  479-575-4812
fax:    479-575-4817

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Melissa Farley
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 7:37 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] JSTOR Excel Download--Coverage Dates Wrong

Does anyone else here use the downloaded list from JSTOR to update your
records with your JSTOR holdings?  In the past, the coverage dates have
accurately reflected the holdings that  JSTOR actually has, but now the
coverage dates are including years where JSTOR only has citation
access.  This is a serious problem for us, as it means having to check
each title on the JSTOR site and clicking around until we find the real
beginning coverage date.   Have any of you found a way around this?  We
catalog our JSTOR titles.

This is the email I just sent to the JSTOR Support team.

To JSTOR Support Team,

I downloaded the title list for our library records, and the coverage
dates are incorrect.   They are often listing dates of coverage when
JSTOR only offers citation access.  I use the downloaded JSTOR list as a
basis to know what we can discard in our paper and microfilm
collections, and also as a basis for how our cataloging department
updates our JSTOR holdings.  In the past, coverage dates only included
issues that JSTOR actually was hosting.  We have other ways to keep
track of and catalog our holdings outside of JSTOR, so we really need a
way to track and update our actual JSTOR holdings.

In our last JSTOR update, I added 220 entries for new JSTOR titles.
Before our transition to an internal database, we would have had to
enter each one of those 220 titles by hand, but the downloaded JSTOR
list makes the process much faster and more efficient.  If the
downloaded list is unreliable, our processing time increases
substantially.  For instance, /Publications of the Astronomical Society
of the Pacific/ has full text from v.110:no.743 (1998:Jan.), but
citations only from v.1:no.1 (1889:Nov.30) to v.109:no.742 (1997:Dec.).
The downloaded list, and also the page for this title, lists coverage as
1889-2011.  I am sure we are not the only library that relies on the
accuracy of the title information that is available for download on the
JSTOR site.

I understand that new features at JSTOR have included links to external
content and citation entries, but libraries really need a way to easily
update their records so that they can adjust their physical holdings and
catalog records.

Please let me know if there is a way that I can get a downloaded list
that includes actual coverage dates for our JSTOR holdings, as soon as
you can.  If there is not such a list available, please create one.

Thank you,
Melissa Farley

--
Melissa Farley
Library Associate I
Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
678-839-6460
mfarley@westga.edu