For budgetary reasons our Health Science Library is considering cancelling
subscriptions and is circulating a list of some 100 journals which are used
infrequently or have low science citation index impact factors. The use of the
latter parameter is moderated by knowledge that some journals inflate their
impact factors by publishing reviews (e.g. J. Biol. Chem.), whereas other
deflate their factor by publishing small data-only papers (e.g. Nucleic Acids
Research).
Two things struck me about the list.
The first was how expensive some journals are:
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry $3304 (Canadian)
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development $2229
Whereas the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology is only $210.
Perhaps, in anticipation of cut backs in the expensive journals authors in
the west should consider submitting to the IJEB?
The second was that the list had not been circulated earlier. For some years
my suggestions for new journal subscriptions have been met with the reply that
we have not got sufficient funds. Actually, I suspect that many librarians like
nice tidy book cases full of complete runs of journals, irrespective of whether
the journal is still at the "cutting edge". If librarians turn down recommend-
ations, one should press them harder to get rid of some of the dead wood.
Sincerely, Don Forsdyke.
Discussion Leader. Bionet.Journals.Note
