The selection of periodicals for binding

The books, periodicals and binding component of the Index of university costs is based on the assumption that the ratio of expenditure on binding to combined expenditure on monographs and periodicals in British university libraries is 1:8. Practice in individual libraries varies widely about this mean. It is possible to find even among libraries serving similar academic populations ratios varying from 1:6 to 1:20. There may of course be sound reasons for particular binding policies that depart markedly from the norm. The purpose of this paper is not to advocate uniformity of policy but to propose a set of criteria for the selection of periodicals for binding that may assist librarians to apply their professional judgment systematically, whatever the level of funds at their disposal.