Here are the replies I received in response to my inquiry about whether
to keep the transfer binders and other materials. Thanks to all who
replied-all of the responses were very helpful. Most libraries keep all
of the transfer binders; people varied as to whether and for how long
they kept the other parts of the releases.
1) We subscribe to both the print & online version of the CCH
Medicare & Medicaid Guide. We keep all of the Transfer Binders. We've
found that some of the older "New Developments" materials have not been
put online. The transfer binders include agency decisions, cases and
other materials that aren't available elsewhere & if those are critical
to research, the transfer binders will be the only source for them.
This becomes more important the farther back in time you go. We also
keep the extra parts for the same reason. This isn't as critical for
the proposed/final rules because those are also published in the Federal
Register, but for the cost reports it is important. Using the pamphlets
that have reprinted Congressional Committee Reports is helpful when
researching legislative history.
2) We always keep transfer binders- are there decisions in those?
You will find that even if the service is online, the older material is
not there. Usually unreported decisions are in transfer binders. I
don't keep the "Extras" beyond what fits in a Princeton file. The
loose-leaf cites to the transfer binders... you can ask CCH.
3) We have New Developments back to 1969 and the extra parts back
that far also. We have downsized our library space quite a bit, but our
attorneys prefer the ease of going right to a shelf and pulling the
exact material as they need it.
4) We subscribe to the online service so I pitched the transfer
binders last year. One of our other offices still gets the print and I
don't know what their practice is. I do keep the most current proposed
and final versions of the various PPS reports, cost reports, etc.
5) We keep the transfer binders for "all time," or at least we
have so far. But we are an academic law library and still have space.
We keep the "current awareness" type pamphlets for one year and then
discard them.
After seeing these, I'm going to keep all of the transfer binders and
print releases, especially since we don't have an online subscription.
If I have to start purging materials, I will toss the print releases
with the proposed/final rules and keep the cost reports, etc.
Thanks again to everyone!
Laurel Davis
Legal Reference Specialist
Office of the Attorney General Martha Coakley
1 Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
617-727-2200 Ext. 2098
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