I know the issue of Beilstein and Gmelin cancellations has been on the list
before.  What I do not recall is any cost figures for substituting online
searching or CD-ROM access for physical ownership of the paper.  We are in
the midst of a massive cancellation project.  I can see no way to justify
continuing to buy Beilstein (just over $30,000 in FY1991/92) or Gmelin
(just over $18,000 in FY1991/92).  These are our two most expensive single
subscriptions.  Unfortunately we have no objective local use studies to
point to, although we do know we do very few online searches using these
databases on Dialog.  We would anticipate some increase in online searches
and know we would lose the 80% discount we currently receive on searches.
What we can't seem to find a way to do is translate that into a rough $
amount.  (We are aware of the article on this subject in the recent issue
of Library Acquisitions...)

So, if anyone has cancelled Beilstein and/or Gmelin in the past 4-5 years
and has figures on how much they (or their clientiele) have spent on
online searches since (annually), I would very much appreciate hearing
from you.  Also, if anyone has a subscription to the Beilstein product on
CD-ROM, or any acceptable substitute for Gmelin, I would love to hear about
that as well.  We would like to be able to continue to offer our researchers
as much access as possible, especially as we offer doctorates in the affected
areas and receive research grants in those areas as well.

As this is a highly specialized request, I would request answers come
directly to me.

Thomas Sanders, Serials, Auburn University, AL (tsanders@auducvax.bitnet
or sandetr@auducadm.auburn.edu)