Data Driven Collection Assessment using a Serial Decision Database

Washington State University (WSU) librarians expanded the concept of a comprehensive serials decision database (SDD) first proposed by Metz and Cosgriff1 in 2000. Information about subscribed and unsubscribed serials was merged onto one spreadsheet from the integrated library system and subscription agent, interlibrary and citation databases, as well as journal use sources. The SDD, used for selection and cancellation projects, evaluation of electronic journal packages, and collection assessment, was recognized as a necessary serials management tool for WSU. There is a need for the commercial development of products that will replace this manual way of organizing information critical to collection development.