I suspect that part of the problem with JSTOR at this time is that they're reflecting title coverage for titles in their Current Scholarship Program (which actually does offer current full-text) instead of the usual embargoed text.  This is affecting all knowledgebases and coverage.  The original example (Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific) is, along with all University of Chicago titles part of this program.  But not all libraries have elected to enter current subscriptions for all the Current Scholarship Program titles, so I think we're all experiencing this as a coverage problem to a greater or lesser extent.  JSTOR needs to present the CSP coverage as a separate option in the coverage records they are making available.  I'm sure all our knowledgebase vendors are pressing for them to do this as soon as possible.

Alice Gormley
Marquette University
Raynor Memorial Libraries

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Lila Angeline Ohler
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 3:12 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR Excel Download--Coverage Dates Wrong

We have also experienced this same problem with SFX and JSTOR's data.

It is unfortunate that in contacting JSTOR, they did not seem all that interested in correcting the problem for their customers.

It is likewise unfortunate that more publishers are not embracing recommended standards such as NISO KBART for their electronic holdings.

I wonder if JSTOR's interest might be more keen if every library having to correct the data manually were to pro-rate the cost of the staff time spent doing that work, and then deducted that pro-rated amount from the payment of their JSTOR invoices......?

Hmmm......just a thought!

Lila (Angie) Ohler
Head of Acquisitions
McKeldin Library
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
301 405-9308 (phone)
301 314-1200 (fax)
lohler@umd.edu
 
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Bulock
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 12:34 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR Excel Download--Coverage Dates Wrong

While I don't make extensive use of that list, similar problems are affecting the information JSTOR has provided Ex Libris for SFX (and I would have to assume other knowledgebase vendors). There has been a substantial conversation on the SFX-DISCUSS-L email list
(https://listserv.nd.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=SFX-DISCUSS-L) with a message from Ex Libris saying they were working with JSTOR on correcting the problem. With any luck, JSTOR will also take the opportunity to correct the Excel download you mentioned.

Chris Bulock
Electronic Resources Librarian
Lovejoy Library
SIUe
cbulock@siue.edu
618.650.2422

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Cheryl L. Conway
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 10:18 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] JSTOR Excel Download--Coverage Dates Wrong

Ms. Farley:

Our web services librarian also uses this list.
We would be very interested to read any
response you receive from the JSTOR Support
Team.   Could you post to this list?

Thank you,

Cheryl

Cheryl L. Conway
Head, Technical Services
Room 214-C
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Ave.
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701-4002
phone:  479-575-4812
fax:    479-575-4817

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Melissa Farley
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 7:37 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] JSTOR Excel Download--Coverage Dates Wrong

Does anyone else here use the downloaded list from JSTOR to update your records with your JSTOR holdings?  In the past, the coverage dates have accurately reflected the holdings that  JSTOR actually has, but now the coverage dates are including years where JSTOR only has citation access.  This is a serious problem for us, as it means having to check each title on the JSTOR site and clicking around until we find the real
beginning coverage date.   Have any of you found a way around this?  We
catalog our JSTOR titles.

This is the email I just sent to the JSTOR Support team.

To JSTOR Support Team,

I downloaded the title list for our library records, and the coverage
dates are incorrect.   They are often listing dates of coverage when
JSTOR only offers citation access.  I use the downloaded JSTOR list as a basis to know what we can discard in our paper and microfilm collections, and also as a basis for how our cataloging department updates our JSTOR holdings.  In the past, coverage dates only included issues that JSTOR actually was hosting.  We have other ways to keep track of and catalog our holdings outside of JSTOR, so we really need a way to track and update our actual JSTOR holdings.

In our last JSTOR update, I added 220 entries for new JSTOR titles.
Before our transition to an internal database, we would have had to enter each one of those 220 titles by hand, but the downloaded JSTOR list makes the process much faster and more efficient.  If the downloaded list is unreliable, our processing time increases substantially.  For instance, /Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific/ has full text from v.110:no.743 (1998:Jan.), but citations only from v.1:no.1 (1889:Nov.30) to v.109:no.742 (1997:Dec.).
The downloaded list, and also the page for this title, lists coverage as 1889-2011.  I am sure we are not the only library that relies on the accuracy of the title information that is available for download on the JSTOR site.

I understand that new features at JSTOR have included links to external content and citation entries, but libraries really need a way to easily update their records so that they can adjust their physical holdings and catalog records.

Please let me know if there is a way that I can get a downloaded list that includes actual coverage dates for our JSTOR holdings, as soon as you can.  If there is not such a list available, please create one.

Thank you,
Melissa Farley

--
Melissa Farley
Library Associate I
Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
678-839-6460
mfarley@westga.edu