SERIALS DUPLICATES EXCHANGE PROGRAMS: COSTS AND BENEFITS

Libraries undertake many activities to stretch budget dollars and “get more for less,” enhancing their collections at the least cost. In some instances, these programs also are seen as having the potential to generate revenues for the library. Serials duplicates exchange programs are one example of this type of activity. Often, the duplicate exchange is viewed as a cost‐effective mechanism for acquiring wanted back issues of serial titles. Libraries offer their duplicates or discards to exchange partners and receive journal issues they may be lacking. Money does not change hands, and all participants appear to benefit. On the surface, this activity appears to be a cost‐free mechanism for swapping excess materials for needed ones. A concern about postage increases and the cost of shipping materials to exchange partners prompted the Pennsylvania State University Libraries to evaluate its serials duplicates exchange program. This cost study documented the actual cost to maintain a duplicates exchange program and provided an opportunity to examine these costs in relation to the benefits derived from the program. The following is a summary of the method used to analyze the costs and benefits of the serials duplicates exchange program at Penn State, as well as the results of the study.