---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 08:49:48 EST
From: mark mccullough <mmccullo@MIRIAM.ONU.EDU>

Thanks to the eight individuals who responded to the questions about
cancelling Chemical Abstracts that I posted last week.  I also received
two requests for summaries.

SUMMARY:

1. SMALL STATE UNIVERSITY (mostly liberal arts programs).  Cancelled in
   1988. Free online searching offered but rarely requested.

2. Cancelled at least 3 years ago.  Provide online access to Chemistry
   faculty, grad students, undergrads via STN's Academic Program. Chemistry
   faculty wanted to make the switch three years before the library.
   For 1992/93 total cost was $536.71.  Know of no problem with ACS
   accreditation.  They want you to keep some retrospective paper volumes to
   expose students to manual searches.  Can write ACS for accreditation
   booklet.  Few restrictions placed on academic libraries.

3. Relatively small Chemistry department.  Cancelled print and gave faculty
   (students with some training) passwords to STN database.  Checked with
   ACS and learned that electronic access was fine for accreditation
   purposes.  Some faculty complaints about unreliability of electronic
   service.  Stood firm by decision to cancel print because of cost.

4. Cancelled in Dec. 1990.  In Jan. 1991, gave workshops on searching CAS
   to Chemistry Faculty.  Have two academic accounts.  Faculty have password
   for one account if they wish to search themselves.  Do free searches for
   faculty and students.  Use 1990 print set for demonstrating CA to
   students.  Worked with faculty to determine that access, not physical
   presence, was the requirement for accreditation.

5. Just cancelled and will be offering free online access to those who need
   it.  Not aware of any problems with Canadian Engineering Accreditation
   Board.

6. Cancelled about 5 years ago.  Have heard of no problem with
   accreditation.  Offer free online searching, but have had few requests.
   Seems faculty are doing it themselves.

7. Cancelled last year.  Subsidizing up to $2,000/year of faculty searching
   on STN academic account (reduced searching after 5:00 p.m.)

8. This topic has been discussed several times during past couple of years
   on COLLIB-L and LIBREF-L and maybe CHEM-INFO.  Check archives--
   particularly for accreditation discussion.  Also on the Oberlin Group
   Libraries discussion list.  Archives to this list may not be available to
   non-members.

Thanks again,

Mark McCullough
Serials/Government Documents Librarian
Heterick Memorial Library
Ohio Northern University
Ada, Ohio 45810

mmccullo@miriam.onu.edu