14 · Survey Results: Executive Summary
most participate in archive holding roles. Most of the
62 responding member libraries are archive holders.
More engagement in shared print programs by ARL
libraries can be expected in the next five years an
overwhelming majority of the library respondents in-
dicated their institution plans to play a greater role in
shared print programs (35 of 49 respondents, or 71%)
the rest expect to continue to participate in the same
role (17, or 35%). None expect to reduce or discontinue
participation in the future. Approximately 15% of the
libraries that participate in shared print programs
participate in multiple programs (e.g., WEST and UC
Shared Print, ASERL Scholars Trust and MedPrint).
Only seven to nine libraries that currently partici-
pate in shared print programs do not participate as
archive holders. As indicated by these respondents,
non-participation as a holder reflects either the early
planning stages of the program (retention commit-
ments are planned but have not yet been made), non-
invitation to a particular program at startup when
archive holders were identified, or an explicit decision
to not make retention or purchasing commitments in
or to the group. Most fall into the first two categories.
In terms of publication types, ARL libraries tend to
retain journals in shared print programs. Of the 27,180
journal titles committed to retain in shared print pro-
grams, 61% are held by ARL libraries while 39% are
held by non-ARL libraries (16,570 and 10,610 respec-
tively). The various regional or cross-regional shared
print programs each tend to hold approximately 200–
300,000 journal volumes (e.g., ASERL Scholars Trust,
CIC, UC Shared Print, WEST). MedPrint holds 1,760
titles (or an unreported but roughly estimated 70,000
volumes). The planned development of a shared print
monographs archive among HathiTrust members
may truly alter the current landscape of shared print
collection management and increase the depth and
breadth of ARL member libraries’ participation.
Some additional interesting patterns of institu-
tional distribution of responsibilities have emerged in
shared print programs. Non-ARL libraries are emerg-
ing as an important set of libraries in long-term reten-
tion. In current shared print programs, most archive
holders are non-ARL libraries. Approximately 251
institutions participate in shared print programs
26% are ARL institutions and 74% are non-ARL
institutions (65 and 186, respectively). About 38% of
the institutions serving as archive holders in shared
print programs are ARL libraries (62 of 164), while
the majority are non-ARL libraries (102, or 62%). This
study did not survey non-ARL libraries so the authors
can only speculate that an important cohort of non-
ARL libraries are highly motivated to distribute print
responsibilities and are willing to make long-term
commitments to some components of their collections.
In addition, print retention commitments tend to
be distributed and non-ARL libraries commit to retain
significantly more volumes relative to ARL partici-
pants. Of the 6.1 million print volumes held in shared
print programs, as reported by shared print managers
in supplemental spreadsheets, approximately 80% are
held by non-ARL libraries and 20% are held by ARL
libraries (4.8 and 1.2 million volumes, respectively),
which reflects the rapid rise in and demand for shared
print agreements across a spectrum of libraries and
willingness of some non-ARL libraries to engage in
long-term retention.
Shared print participation crosses the spectrum of
higher education institutions, and programs have be-
gun to include public libraries and non-degree grant-
ing research libraries. The types of institutions that
currently participate in shared print arrangements
are primarily academic libraries, ranging from two-
year colleges to doctoral degree–granting institutions.
Notably, a few non-degree-granting research librar-
ies and non-ARL public libraries also participate in
shared print programs. Both publicly and privately
funded institutions participate there is not a signifi-
cant distinction in participation from public or pri-
vately funded institutions, which may suggest that
regardless of the source of institutional support, most
libraries in higher education find value in their par-
ticipation in shared print programs.
In conclusion, more and deeper ARL participation
in shared print programs can be expected in the fu-
ture the landscape of print retention will likely be dis-
tributed across a mix of ARL and non-ARL libraries,
with important retention roles for non-ARL libraries.
And greater emphasis on retention of monographs in
distributed relationships can be expected, which may
re-alter the already changing landscape of steward-
ship among libraries.
most participate in archive holding roles. Most of the
62 responding member libraries are archive holders.
More engagement in shared print programs by ARL
libraries can be expected in the next five years an
overwhelming majority of the library respondents in-
dicated their institution plans to play a greater role in
shared print programs (35 of 49 respondents, or 71%)
the rest expect to continue to participate in the same
role (17, or 35%). None expect to reduce or discontinue
participation in the future. Approximately 15% of the
libraries that participate in shared print programs
participate in multiple programs (e.g., WEST and UC
Shared Print, ASERL Scholars Trust and MedPrint).
Only seven to nine libraries that currently partici-
pate in shared print programs do not participate as
archive holders. As indicated by these respondents,
non-participation as a holder reflects either the early
planning stages of the program (retention commit-
ments are planned but have not yet been made), non-
invitation to a particular program at startup when
archive holders were identified, or an explicit decision
to not make retention or purchasing commitments in
or to the group. Most fall into the first two categories.
In terms of publication types, ARL libraries tend to
retain journals in shared print programs. Of the 27,180
journal titles committed to retain in shared print pro-
grams, 61% are held by ARL libraries while 39% are
held by non-ARL libraries (16,570 and 10,610 respec-
tively). The various regional or cross-regional shared
print programs each tend to hold approximately 200–
300,000 journal volumes (e.g., ASERL Scholars Trust,
CIC, UC Shared Print, WEST). MedPrint holds 1,760
titles (or an unreported but roughly estimated 70,000
volumes). The planned development of a shared print
monographs archive among HathiTrust members
may truly alter the current landscape of shared print
collection management and increase the depth and
breadth of ARL member libraries’ participation.
Some additional interesting patterns of institu-
tional distribution of responsibilities have emerged in
shared print programs. Non-ARL libraries are emerg-
ing as an important set of libraries in long-term reten-
tion. In current shared print programs, most archive
holders are non-ARL libraries. Approximately 251
institutions participate in shared print programs
26% are ARL institutions and 74% are non-ARL
institutions (65 and 186, respectively). About 38% of
the institutions serving as archive holders in shared
print programs are ARL libraries (62 of 164), while
the majority are non-ARL libraries (102, or 62%). This
study did not survey non-ARL libraries so the authors
can only speculate that an important cohort of non-
ARL libraries are highly motivated to distribute print
responsibilities and are willing to make long-term
commitments to some components of their collections.
In addition, print retention commitments tend to
be distributed and non-ARL libraries commit to retain
significantly more volumes relative to ARL partici-
pants. Of the 6.1 million print volumes held in shared
print programs, as reported by shared print managers
in supplemental spreadsheets, approximately 80% are
held by non-ARL libraries and 20% are held by ARL
libraries (4.8 and 1.2 million volumes, respectively),
which reflects the rapid rise in and demand for shared
print agreements across a spectrum of libraries and
willingness of some non-ARL libraries to engage in
long-term retention.
Shared print participation crosses the spectrum of
higher education institutions, and programs have be-
gun to include public libraries and non-degree grant-
ing research libraries. The types of institutions that
currently participate in shared print arrangements
are primarily academic libraries, ranging from two-
year colleges to doctoral degree–granting institutions.
Notably, a few non-degree-granting research librar-
ies and non-ARL public libraries also participate in
shared print programs. Both publicly and privately
funded institutions participate there is not a signifi-
cant distinction in participation from public or pri-
vately funded institutions, which may suggest that
regardless of the source of institutional support, most
libraries in higher education find value in their par-
ticipation in shared print programs.
In conclusion, more and deeper ARL participation
in shared print programs can be expected in the fu-
ture the landscape of print retention will likely be dis-
tributed across a mix of ARL and non-ARL libraries,
with important retention roles for non-ARL libraries.
And greater emphasis on retention of monographs in
distributed relationships can be expected, which may
re-alter the already changing landscape of steward-
ship among libraries.
