Use rates have been a major factor in the decision to cancel a title. However, some research libraries are now experimenting with commercial document delivery for important but low-use titles which are also very expensive. These funds will pay for individual articles to be faxed to faculty members. So we will be paying for actual use rather than carrying the cost of subscription. In many cases, this method is less costly.
Many electronic resources are very expensive, and the costs for most continue to rise.
Unrestricted gift money has helped to ease this pressure and has allowed the Library to expand its access to online and CD-ROM resources. The addition of online databases has significantly improved access to information throughout the University community and to participants in distance learning programs. For example, Expanded Academic Index is searched 7,000 times a week. This year, we have worked closely with other libraries to share the costs of these resources. For example, we have collaborated with other academic libraries in Oregon and Washington to get the best price on the electronic version of the Britannica .