Reports

1. Summary of recommendations

   1. Terminate all BLC print agreements as they are currently constituted. Any libraries maintaining contracts with vendors connected to these agreements may cancel these contracts unless they wish to continue their specific arrangements.

      Background:
      Biology/Neuroscience and Chemistry: Most responses indicated that the participants considered the agreements to be inactive or cancelled. Most libraries had no desire or financial capability to renew them.

      Other Agreements (Asian Business/Economics, Latin America Women's Studies, Music, Art, Film, Small Press Poetry): Most responses were positive regarding these agreements but several factors contributed to only moderate interest in moving forward with any of the agreements. Responding libraries in some cases cited the lack of a committee structure that could facilitate discussion about the agreements and the lack of centralization for decision-making regarding the agreements (which were formerly supported by the Cooperative Collections Committee). Other libraries cited an inability or unwillingness to move forward with agreements due to financial constraints.

      Print Agreements Connected to Outside Vendor Contracts: The Latin American Book Store supported the Latin American Women's Studies agreement. The Asian Business/Economics agreement included separate arrangements between participating libraries and vendors selected to provide material in this category.

      Intellectual vs. Practical Commitment to Cooperative Agreements: The Task Force members noted that most respondents agreed philosophically with the concept of cooperative agreements, but felt, in practice, that the agreements were difficult to maintain. Libraries were able to support their commitments in strong financial times but were unable to guarantee this support in poor financial times when, paradoxically, cooperative agreements are most needed.

   2. Due to a lack of consensus among libraries to continue their participation with current print agreements, we recommend that the BLC not provide direct support for administering print agreements at this time.

   3. Any institutions interested in continuing print cooperative agreements should be encouraged to form specific CoI's to develop and administer new versions of the original agreements. New BLC member libraries could decide to participate. These CoI's should build a strong ongoing oversight structure into their agreements, since the BLC will not provide administrative support.

   4. Any institutions interested in developing print agreements in new subject/format areas should be invited and encouraged to create a CoI to develop and discuss their ideas. Again, these CoI's should build a strong ongoing oversight structure into their agreements, since the BLC will not provide administrative support.

   5. Libraries interested in pursuing cooperative electronic agreements should contact the Electronic Resources Task Force. (Note: Some libraries expressed interest in having the BLC explore the development of cooperative electronic agreements, which could include databases, e-journals, or e-books.)

   6. If the BLC later deems that print agreements should be a part of its overall mission, the BLC should organize official administrative support that would monitor the participation of all institutions involved in the print agreements.

2. Background information:
   1. CCCD letter Final.doc (attached): This letter was sent by the task force to participating institutions. The letter explained the purpose of the task force and listed survey questions that we intended to ask of each participating institution.
   2. CCCD print chart 4-15.xls (attached): This chart summarizes responses to the questions about the print agreements.
      
      
3. Programs planned or implemented: none.
   
   
4. Resources used: none.
   
   

5. Activities:At the February 25, 2003 meeting, the Task Force divided up the list of institutions involved in various BLC print agreements that were created during the late 1990's. The Task Force members developed a short survey (see Background Information A.) aimed at determining past experience, current practice and future preferences connected to the print agreements. Each Task Force member then contacted their assigned institutions' Collection Development Officers or the subject librarians directly involved with the print agreements. At the April 1, 2003 meeting, the survey results were cumulated (See Background Information B.) and discussed. The Task Force received responses from 15 of the 16 institutions queried. Recommendations summarizing the Task Force members' conclusions were drafted.

1. Meetings held:
   25 February 2003, 1-3pm, Boston College
   1 April, 2003, 1-3pm, Boston College.
   Active exchange via the Task Force listserve
   
   
2. Activities/Accomplishments to date:
   At the February 25, 2003 meeting, the Task Force divided up the list of institutions involved in various BLC print agreements that were created during the late 1990's. The Task Force members developed a short survey (attached) aimed at determining past experience, current practice and future preferences connected to the print agreements. Each Task Force member then contacted their assigned institutions' Collection Development Officers or the subject librarians directly involved with the print agreements.
   
   At the April 1, 2003 meeting, the survey results were cumulated (attached) and discussed. The Task Force received responses from 15 of the 16 institutions queried. Recommendations summarizing the Task Force members' conclusions were drafted.
   
   
3. Communication:
   The Task Force communicated primarily with subject librarians involved with the actual agreements or with the Collection Development Officers at the libraries involved. Task Force members agreed that contacting CoI's would be redundant to communication already made with print agreement participants and that CoI's would replicate responses provided by their Collection Development Officers. Also, the majority of responses indicated a lack of strong interest or support for continuing the print agreements.
   
   
4. Requests:
   No requests for funding, resources or other information at this time.
   
   
5. Next steps:
   The Task Force will generate draft recommendations and work via our listserve to formulate final recommendations by June 6, 2003.
   
   

1. Meetings Held
   
   
   • 25 February 2003, 1-3pm, Boston College
   • Active exchange via the Task Force listserv
     
     
2. Activities/Accomplishments to date
   
   
   • Every collections head whose institution has participated in a BLC print agreement has been contacted to determine his or her institution's involvement in current print agreements.
     
     
3. Next Steps
   
   
   • The Task Force will meet 1 April 2003 from 1-3pm at Boston College to collate the results of our fact-finding mission and to move on to tackling the next step of our charge. Using the results from this meeting, we will then be contacting relevant COI's to solicit their input on this issue.