Stark raving mad

[lesbiassparrow]

Hauled myself to library today only to find out that they stopped buying the journal I needed to consult two years before the article I want was published.  Foamed for a bit about the cheap bastards that run the library at my alma mater, then drove home.  I then proceeded to buy the article online from the journal but due to their inane navigation system I managed to buy first a) the editorial note (one page long) and b) the comments on the article. Neither of which I bloody wanted. And they were $23 each.

Finally, a poorer person, I managed to buy the article (I was beginning to fear that I'd end up buying a shopping list before I actually got to purchase it). Honestly, what respectable journal sells you the editorial note? Bastards. Academic publishing bastards, I call them and I mean every word of it. I emailed them but I expect little joy. 

Comments

[aikakone.livejournal.com]

My first reaction is to volunteer to help you find articles since my major is library science. Don't know how well that would go. I can, however, confer your thoughts on academic publishers. I did a powerpoint presentation in one of my classes about the atrocious high prices of some journals. Libraries can barely afford other materials because of the serials budget.

Anyway, go raise some hell! *grr*

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the kind offer! I did finally manage to get the article which was actually interesting and quite useful. Maybe at some other point when I'm not running around at the last minute I'll take you up on your offer :-).

I know the cost of academic journals is crushing for libraries, but it's not like my alma mater is short of a few dollars. I do think they're choosing to put the money in other places than the library, though, as their library is really not up to scratch for an institution of their size and resources.

The other thing I find frustrating about this library is that they seem to employ very few trained librarians; it's almost impossible to find one to talk about search strategies as they use students for most of their work. In the past I've found myself using other libraries as their staff are qualified in the field and actually offer helpful suggestions instead of blank stares.

Librarians are great resources and substituting untrained staff on any wholesale scale for them is not a good idea for any library. But I suspect I'm preaching to the choir here.

[aikakone.livejournal.com]

DANG! I need to go there and find a job. I am still a year away from being done (2 semesters if I take 3 classes at once one of these semesters).