A Pack Rat’s Dilemma: Parting With Hard Copy Journal Archives And Textbooks

They say time flies when you are having fun. I guess I have been having fun because in the blink of an eye, it has been over 30 years since I graduated from the original Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine. I spent the first 16 years in private practice. Since then, I have been at an academic health science center with six residents.

In such a setting, it is imperative to keep up with the research. Well, as a pack rat, I have saved all the journals during the past 30 years so you can imagine how they fill up a rather large section of the basement. I have issues of the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (JAPMA) going back to 1977. There are other boxes filled with copies of pertinent articles I have copied or downloaded from journals that I did not subscribe to. This was and is a monthly endeavor to check a diversified array of journals and copy any articles pertinent to the foot and ankle. All of this began way back in school and has continued unabated.  

I find it hard to read journals online. My apologies to the environmentalists and the number of trees sacrificed but having hard copies in one’s hand makes the journals portable, even in the bathroom. Over the past few months, I have been talking with colleagues in our own and numerous specialties about what to do with this collection, especially the really old issues. The consensus: “Get rid of them.”

You would think it would be easy to simply put those old journals in the recycling bin but it is hard to let go. Maybe because they represent a career and time spent reading them, which makes it more difficult. Maybe because no matter how spry and “with it” I feel, there are still more years behind me than in front of me and that takes getting used to. All the journals and articles are somehow related to the past. Those from June 1990, for example, are from when my daughter was born. You get the idea.

In honor of the 21st century and the opinions of those I respect, out those journals go into the recycling. But first I will most likely go through every one and take a look. Should I maybe keep a few? The landmark ones? Unless you want any?

Imagine how much knowledge we have amassed over the years. It is almost like a gigantic funnel. Much goes in with so little retained. Review is good since, at the very least, it keeps the topics fresh. With all of this reading, you would think I would be a genius. Maybe if I had a photographic memory of the studies, meta-analyses and case reports would be bubbling out. Every once in awhile, I am able to quote an article to the residents. They have a blank stare. To date, only a few have searched to find the articles. When the hands shake and I can’t remember the indications for a Lapidus, then I know it will be time to call it a career.

No, retirement is a few years off and has to wait until my girls stop keeping the economy afloat. Until then, the journals come in, I copy the articles and the whole cycle repeats.

Now let us look at some textbooks. My high school refused to accept a donation as did the town and hospital libraries. They look at the books as useless and taking up too much room. I look at them as collector’s items and full of knowledge. It is their loss. In the residents’ call room are bookshelves for their library. Some space is open. I know a place for the books now where there will be no questions asked unless their residency director gets wind of the dropoff and he too finds the books to be clutter.

In light of the above, I have toyed with the idea of putting the journals and books on eBay. Oh, but that is work and what can I get for all this stuff? Looks like the curb is going to win out no matter what.
You can always inquire with me what is available. We can then haggle over the price or barter. Shipping is not included.

Dr. Wallace is the Director of the Podiatry Service and the Medical Director of Ambulatory Care Services at University Hospital in Newark, N.J.