----------(1)
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 09:40:40 -0500
From: "Stratton, Lindsay (ETS: Library)" <lstratton@MONROECC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Journals circulation in academic/branch libraries (Marcia Tra
                uernight)

My library circulates periodicals, single issues and bound volumes, to
staff/faculty only.

The  Circulation Dept. has special plastic envelopes that have online
records and are barcoded for check-out. The title and volume information of
the material being borrowed is added to a note field of the envelope's
record and hand written on a label on the envelope, then the envelope and
journal are checked out. This way, the journals that the faculty person has
checked out are attached to their library record, it is clear when searching
the OPAC that the issue is checked out not missing, and we know roughly when
they will be back - we have a set loan period (2 weeks) with no renewals.
Overdue notices are generated as for regularly circulating material. We have
a limit of five issues.

We have had very few problems loaning journals. The process, from the
Circulation staff side, is a little time consuming but works well for us,
and the faculty appreciate being able to check out journals.

Lindsay Stratton
Serials Department
LeRoy V. Good Library
Monroe Community College
1000 East Henrietta Road
Rochester, NY 14623
lstratton@monroecc.edu

----------(2)
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 08:47:02 -0600
From: Karen Chobot <karen.chobot@NDSCS.NODAK.EDU>
Subject: Re: Journals circulation in academic/branch libraries (2 messages)

Hi - haven't seen too much yet about actually circulating journals, which
we do in our library.  We are a two year college with an FTE of 2300
students.  We have 700 active subscriptions.  We use the PALS system, and
every issue is barcoded when checked in.

I am very much in favor of circulating magazines in this instance.  At
last count we had over 71,000 actual items barcoded, and 149 of them were
in circulation.  As you can see, this is not a large amount out, and loss
is almost non existent.  We do keep everything in closed stacks, so
people must check them out to see them.  They are almost always back the
same day or the next day.

The best part is that mutilation and theft are minimal, and I rarely have
to replace an issue.  I replace more from mail damage than from other
loss.  Circulation, of course, is going down now that so many things are
available from our full text databases, so having the journal issues
circulate has been good for our statistics.

We are slowly decreasing our journal holdings, from a high of over 1000
active subscriptions when I got here 7 years ago.  This past year I
weeded nearly 20,000 issues, and we do not keep most things past 10 years
in any case.  Research is not a major issue with our students, most need
materials within 5 years or so.  Last week is even better.

For anyone in a similar situation, I do recommend circulating journal
issues.